amalgam
- CAS No.
- Chemical Name:
- amalgam
- Synonyms
- amalgam
- CBNumber:
- CB1945863
- Molecular Formula:
- Molecular Weight:
- 0
- MOL File:
- Mol file
amalgam Chemical Properties,Uses,Production
Uses
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.
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.