amalgamation

Amalgamation is a metallurgical process that involves mixing a metal with mercury to create an alloy called an amalgam. This process has been known since antiquity and was historically used to extract precious metals like gold and silver from their ores.123

The resulting amalgam can be liquid or crystalline, depending on the mercury content. In dentistry, amalgams of silver, tin, copper, and zinc are used to fill teeth. A sodium amalgam is also formed during the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide through the electrolysis of brine.2

While historically significant for metal extraction, mercury's toxicity has led to its replacement in many applications, including thermometers and some industrial processes.34