ALUDELS, in Chemistry, Subliming-Pots. Aludels, are a Range of earthen Tubes, or Pots without bottoms; fitted, one over another, and diminishing as they advance towards the Top.—The lowest is adapted to a Pot, placed in the Furnace, wherein the Matter to be sublimed is lodged.—And at the Top is a Head, to retain the Flowers which ascend. See FLOWERS.
AMALGAM, or Amalgama, in Chemistry, a Mass of Mercury, united and incorporated with a Metal. See MERCURY, and METAL. The Amalgam of Mercury with Lead, is a soft, friable Substance, of a Silver Colour. See LEAD. By washing and grinding this Amalgam with fair warm Water in a glass Mortar, the Impurities of the Metal will mix with the Water; and by changing the Water, and repeating the Lotion again and again, the Metal will be further and further purified. Boerhaave mentions it as one of the greatest Secrets in Chemistry, to contrive to bring off the Liquor at last as clear and unfouled as when first poured on the Amalgam; which might afford a Method of making the nobler Metals, or procuring them from the Baser. See TRANSMUTATION, PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, etc. This philosophical way of purifying Metals, may be applied to all the Metals, except Iron and Copper. See AMALGAMATION. The Word Amalgama is formed of the Greek ama, simul, together, and gamos, jungere, to join.
AMALGAMATION, in Chemistry, the Operation of making an Amalgama; i.e., of calcining, or rather dissolving some Metal, especially Gold, by means of Mercury. See AMALGAMA. Amalgamation is performed by fusing, or at least igniting the Metal; and in this State adding a proportion of Mercury thereto; upon which they mutually attract, and incorporate with each other. See MERCURY. All Metals, except Iron and Copper, unite and amalgamate with Mercury; but Gold with the greatest facility; Silver the next; then Lead, and Tin. See METAL, etc. The Amalgamation of Gold is usually performed by heating the Laminae or Plates of Metal red hot; after which, Quick-silver is to be poured upon them, and the Mixture stirred with a little Iron Rod, till it begins to rise into Smoke.—It is then thrown into a Vessel full of Water, where it coagulates and becomes manageable. This Calcination is in great use among Goldsmiths, and Gilders, who by this means render Gold fluid and ductile for their Purposes—Such Mixture or Amalgama being laid on any other Metal, for instance, Copper; and this afterwards placed on the Fire to evaporate; the Gold will be left alone on the Surface of the Copper: which makes what we call Gilding. See GILDING. The Blackness adhering to the Amalgam may be washed away with Water; and a deal of the Mercury pressed out through a linen Cloth: The rest being evaporated in a Crucible, the Gold remains behind in an impalpable Powder. See GOLD. Gold retains about thrice its own weight of Mercury. This Operation is denoted among Chemists by the Letters AAA. See CHARACTER.
ALCALIZATION, or Alkalization, Alcalizatio, in Chemistry, the Act of impregnating a Liquor with an alkaline Salt. See ALKALY.This is done either to make it a better Dissolvent, for some particular Purposes; or to load the Phlegm, so as it may not rise in Distillation, whereby the spirituous Parts may go over more pure. See DISSOLUTION, DISTILLATION, SPIRIT, &c.