The Placer herald., 1866-05-26
Sodium -Amalgam... Nature and Use.

A very absurd article appeared in some Of
the papers, describing sdinmamalgam as
dangerous substance, more powerful explo.
slve than gunpowder or nitro.g ycerine.-
AS such silly misrepresentation may deter
many persons from using this really valua.
able compound as an ANA gamatng agent
in gold mining, few particulars concerning
the nature of sodium and sodium amagan,
may not be without use to the public.
Sodium was unknown till the year 1907,
when the famous Davy, by means of gal.
vanic battery first discovered its existence.
1t is the base Of the alkali, soda, almost un>
versally used in the arts, manufactures,
and for domestic purposes, in some form or
other.
Sodium is a white metal, as soft as putty
at ordinary temperat ures, and may be cut
with blunt knife like soap. 1t is exceed
ingly caustic in its properties, burning the
fingers like nitrate of silver, but making
brown instead of black stain on the skin.
1t is very maleable, up to the temperature
of nearly boiling water, when it becomes
liquid and presents much the appearance as
mere ry. 1t oxydizes rapidly on exposure
to the atmosphere, generating at the same
time an intense heat. burns with great
brlliancy on piece of red hot iron. If
thrown on cold water, it rushes about on
the surface with great rapidi'y, emitting
dense white fumes. But if the water is hot, :,
or if a few drops of cold water is sprinkled
on it, it bursts out into II vivid white flame
and detonates with considerable force. 1t
has such a strong affinity for oxygen, that it
absorbs it from the atmosphere when brought
in contact with it. For this reason it is
necessary to keep it in vessels containing
naptha coal oil, or some other fluid contain
ing no oxygen.
That sodium will explode if confined in a
vessel and sprinked with water, is not
strange, after such an explanation of its ma
ture; 50 will quckIime under precisely sim
liar circumstances. But there are very few
accidents recorded which have arisen from
the explosion Of lime. Everybody knowing
that water decomposes quicklime, it is kept
dry till required to be wet for use. Whoev
er beard of an accident caused by the explo-
sion of sodium, though it has been used in
the arts and manufactures for upward of
half century,
The amalgam Of sodium and mercury.
the most valuable material for saving gold
from its ores ever discovered, possesses much
less affinity for oxygen than sodium itself
1t may be made so hard as to be altogether
unaffected by the atmosphere. Made in the
proportions best adapted for use in mills for
saving gold, it may be kept in the open air
for a considerable time without being affect
ed. But it ultimately dissolves, the sodium
evaporating, leaving white coating of oxide
and free mercury. There is no explosion,
or even ebu|ltion, during its decomp position.
When placed in water, the only action that
takes place is the operation of the two met
ais The sodium combining with the oxygen
of the water without explosion, and very lit,
tie ehulition.
We have been engaged for two years past
making experiments with sodium amalgam,
and we can insure our readers that it is not
particle more dangerous to use than COM
mon lime. AS it AS an amalgamator pos
sesses most extraordinary powers, it should
no be rejected because of a senseless newspa-
per paragraph. s. +. Miner.