Amalgam (chemistry) Amalgam (chemistry) An amalgam is an alloy of mercury with another metal, which may be a liquid, a soft paste or a solid, depending upon the proportion of mercury. These alloys are formed through metallic bonding, with the electrostatic attractive force of the conduction electrons working to bind all the positively charged metal ions together into a crystal lattice structure. Almost all metals can form amalgams with mercury, the notable exceptions being iron, platinum, tungsten, and tantalum. Silver-mercury amalgams are important in dentistry, and gold-mercury amalgam is used in the extraction of gold from ore. Zinc amalgam finds use in
Amalgam tattoo amalgam tattoos are managed by simple reassurance about the nature of the lesion. For example, if radio-opaque particles are demonstrated on the x-ray, biopsy is unnecessary. Amalgam tattoo is found in up to 1% of people in the general population. It is the most common cause of solitary or focal pigmentation of the oral mucosa. Amalgam tattoo Amalgam tattoo (also termed localized argyrosis, or focal argyrosis) is a grey, blue or black area of discoloration on the mucous membranes of the mouth, typically on the gums of the lower jaw. It is an iatrogenic lesion, caused by entry of dental