Question

What is an amalgam? Name one metal which does not form amalgam? State one use of amalgam.

Answer 1

An amalgam is an alloy of mercury and one or more metals. For example, sodium, along with liquid mercury, gives a sodium amalgam. Amalgams may be in the liquid (sodium amalgam) or the solid (zinc amalgam) state.
Iron does not form an amalgam. Thus, mercury can be kept in iron bottles.
An amalgam of mercury along with gold, silver and tin is widely used in dentistry.