amalgam

The Uses of amalgam

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.

Definition

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.

Definition

An alloy of mercury with one or more other metals. Amalgams may be liquid or solid. An amalgam of sodium (Na/Hg) with water is used as a source of nascent hydrogen.

Definition

amalgam: An alloy of mercury withone or more other metals. Most metalsform amalgams (iron and platinumare exceptions), which may beliquid or solid. Some contain deüniteintermetallic compounds, such asNaHg₂.

Industrial uses

An amalgam is a combination of a metal withmercury (Hg). The amalgams have the characteristicthat when slightly heated they are softand easily workable, and they become very hardwhen set. They are used for filling where it isnot possible to employ high temperatures.
Dental amalgams are prepared by mixingmercury with finely divided alloys composedof varying proportions of silver, tin, and copper.Amalgams used in dental work require the followingcomposition: Ag, 65% minimum, Cu,6% maximum, Zn, 2% maximum, and Sn, 1%minimum.