Gold looks indestructible — but it has a silent enemy. Mercury. When gold comes into contact with mercury, it may seem harmless at first. The gold simply appears to gain a shiny silver coating. But the real reaction happens inside. Mercury slowly penetrates the gold and begins dissolving it from within. This process is called amalgamation. Mercury bonds with gold so efficiently that the gold loses its original structure and strength. That’s why even a small amount of mercury can permanently dama