A Lecture Experiment

Abstract

To show that chlorine will attack mercury, some mercury was shaken up in a covered gas jar filled with chlorine. On shaking, the sides of the jar and also the cover-glass became coated with a continuous film of mercury, as though the inside were silvered. After a short time, the film was eaten through, and patches of the white chloride produced. I have not seen this effect noticed in books, so it may be worth while to call attention to it.