Mercury or Quicksilver. This is a heavy liquid metal, possessing a nearly silver-white color, and a brilliant metallic lustre. The principal sources of this metal at the present time are the mines of Idria in Carniola, and Almaden in Spain, where it exists under the form of cinnabar, from which the pure metal is obtained by distilling that ore with lime or iron filings in iron retorts, by which the sulphur it contains is seized and retained, while the mercury rises in the state of vapor, and is condensed in suitable receivers. Its specific gravity, when pure, is 13.5; it solidifies at —39° (39° below zero) Fahr., and when solid is ductile, malleable, and tenacious; boils at 662° Fahr., but volatilizes slowly at the ordinary temperature of the atmosphere, and when mixed with water at from 140° to 160°, it is volatilized in considerable quantities. It unites with oxygen, forming two oxides; and with chlorine, forming calomel and corrosive sublimate; with the metals it forms amalgams, combining, however, with difficulty with iron, nickel, platinum, and some other less important metals. Its oxides form salts with the acids. The only acids that act on metallic mercury are the sulphuric and nitric; but for this purpose the former must be heated.

3325. Test for the Purity of Mercury

3325.   Test for the Purity of Mercury. Metallic mercury may be known by its volatility; and when in a finely divided or pulverulent state, by the microscope, or by staining a piece of copper white when rubbed on it, or when heated beneath it. It is totally dissipated by heat, and dissolved by diluted nitric acid, but is insoluble in boiling muriatic acid. The acid poured off, and allowed to cool, is neither colored, nor yields a precipitate with sulphuretted hydrogen. A globule moved about on a sheet of paper yields no trail; pure sulphuric acid agitated with it (in the cold) evaporates when heated, without leaving any residuum.

3326. To Purify Mercury

3326.    To Purify Mercury. Mercury, as imported, is usually very pure. It may be prepared for medical purposes by putting 6 parts into a retort and distilling off 4 parts, The whole of the mercury may, however, be safely drawn over. The product is to be agitated and boiled with 2 fluid drachms hydrochloric acid and 1 fluid ounce water for each pound of the metal; then washed with pure water, and dried by heat. A strong earthenware or iron retort, with a low neck or tube dipping into a basin of water, may be used for this purpose.

3327. To Purify Mercury

3327.    To Purify Mercury. One of the quickest and best means of purifying mercury is to agitate it with a concentrated solution of nitrate of mercury, at a heat of 104° Fahr., then wash it with distilled water, and dry by passing several times through clean, dry chamois leather.

3328. To Purify Mercury

3328.   To Purify Mercury. Distill equal parts of mercury and iron filings in an iron retort, into a vessel containing water.

3329. To Purify Mercury

3329.    To Purify Mercury. The following simple method of purifying quicksilver is by Dr. Miller: Put the quicksilver into a bottle capable of containing 4 times its quantity, add a little powdered loaf sugar, and stopper the bottle; shake it vigorously for a few minutes, then open the bottle and blow fresh air into it with a pair of bellows. Repeat this 3 or 4 times, and filter the mixture through a cone of smooth writing paper having its apex pierced with a fine pin. The sugar is left behind in the filter with the oxides of any other metals present, and a small quantity of mercury in a state of minute division.