METHODS OF OBTAINING MERCURY.

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by trituration, but more intimately by heat. It is acted on bythe alcaline sulphurets. It combines with many of the metals ;these compounds are brittle, or soft, when the mercury is inlarge proportion. There is a slight union between mercury andphosphorus. It does not unite with carbon or the earths.

METHOD OF OBTAINING MERCURY.

Mercury may be obtained pure by decomposing cinnabar, bymeans of iron filings. For that purpose take two parts of redsulphuret of mercury (cinnabar) reduce it to powder, and mixit with one of iron filings, put the mixture into a stone retort,direct the neck of it into a bottle, or receiver, filled with water,and apply heat. Ihe mercury will then be obtained in a stateof purity.

Rationale. ..Sulphuret of mercury consists of sulphur andmercury; if this be heated in contact with iron, the sulphur quitsthe mercury and unites to the iron, and the mercury becomesdisengaged; the residue in the retort is a sulphuret of iron.