General Knowledge - General Science - Discussion

Is amalgam only the mixture of mercury and other metals or some other metal mixing with the others.

It is a substance formed by reaction with mercury with an other metal. Almost all the metals can form amalgam with mercury.

It is a alloy of mercury and it is used in dentist to fill cavities of the teeth.

What happened when amalgam is heated with sodium metal?

Due to mercury have high density.

When Hg is a part of any alloy its known as Amalgam.

In dentistry, amalgam is an alloy of mercury with various metals used for dental fillings. It commonly consists of mercury (50%), silver (~22-32% ), tin (~14%), copper (~8%), and other trace metals.Dental amalgams were first documented in a Tang Dynasty medical text written by Su Kung in 659, and appeared in Germany in 1528. In the 1800 s, amalgam became the dental restorative material of choice due to its low cost, ease of application, strength, and durability.

Recently however, its popularity has diminished somewhat. Concern for aesthetics, environmental pollution, health, and the availability of improved, reliable, composite materials have all contributed. In particular, concerns about the toxicity of mercury have made its use increasingly controversial. Due to a plan to phase out the use of mercury, Sweden, Norway and Denmark deliberated in 2008 on a ban of mercury dental amalgam, substituting it with composite fillings. Dentists in Denmark are no longer allowed to use mercury in fillings since April 1, 2008. The Swedish amalgam ban is for both environmental and health issues, according to the Swedish authorities.

Amalgam is an alloy of silver and mercury that is why it is.

Because mercury is in liquid form.

All kind of transition metals form amalgams with mercury.