I am learning about solutions and while giving an example of a liquid (solute) and a solid (solvent), my teacher told us that mercury forms an amalgam with all the metals except iron.
I want to know why this is so?
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Sign up to join this communityI am learning about solutions and while giving an example of a liquid (solute) and a solid (solvent), my teacher told us that mercury forms an amalgam with all the metals except iron.
I want to know why this is so?
Iron does not form an amalgam readily, hence the use of iron electrodes in mercury switches. Apparently, iron does form alloys with mercury under specific conditions; see http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2011-04/1304143502.Ch.r.html.
By contrast, mercury spilled on gold (e.g. gold-alloy jewelry) soaks in immediately, discoloring the gold, and migrates further into the bulk metal in a few hours, thus restoring the color.
In Fe,Co,Ni The Metallic Bonds Are Very Strong Hence Don't Allow Mercury To Diffuse Into It Hence No Amalgam With Them While In Other Metals Like Ag,Au,Na etc(Soft Metals) Mercury Can Easily Diffuse And Form Metallic Bonds With Them(Ag,Au,Na,etc) Hence Amalgam Formation In Them. Note:-All Metal Mentioned Above Are Of Comparable Size Of Hg i.e. Fulfilling Amalgam formation Condition.