Amalgam

Name:
Amalgam
Detailed information:
A mixture or alloy of mercury with any of a number of metals or alloys, including cesium, sodium, tin, zinc, lithium, potassium, gold, and silver as well as with some nonmetals. Dental amalgams are mixtures of mercury with a silver tin alloy. A sodium amalgam is formed in the preparation of pure sodium hydroxide by electrolysis of brine.

Use:

Dental fillings, silvering mirrors, catalysis, analytical separation of metals; to facilitate application of active metals such as sodium, aluminum, and zinc in the preparation of titanium, etc., or in reduction of organic compounds.

See Sodium Amalgam.