Why do they call them "silver" fillings when they are 50% or more mercury?

According to http://www.y2khealthanddetox.com/mercfil... dental amalgam fillings are 50% or slightly more mercury %26amp; only about 35% silver along with 9% tin and 6% copper; so why are they called "silver" fillings? Shouldn't they be called mercury fillings?

Why do they call them "silver" fillings when they are 50% or more mercury?
They're called silver AMALGAM fillings, which means they are an amalgamation of many different compounds, one of which is silver. And it also, conveniently describes the colour of them which is easier for some people to understand - some people don't understand terms like amalgam or composite, so calling them silver or white fillings makes it easier for them to know what they are going to have done.
Reply:Do not know
Reply:They are called silver because that is their colour. This said my colleagues and I call them amalgams (which means an alloy containing mercury) rather than "silver fillings" .





Incedently they do actually contain silver. The setting reaction is as follows:


Ag3Sn + Hg -%26gt; Ag3Sn + Ag2Hg3 + Sn7Hg
Reply:Because the term silver is used to describe the color not the components.





It's very simple! Think of a box of crayons, the metallic crayon in the box is called SILVER, not metallic or mercury.
Reply:Whoa there pardoner...you must have missed one of your chemistry classes...the one where they explained that a small amount of Mercury is only used to bind the silver amalgam formula together into a putty like mass. Once the amalgam is mixed the Mercury is squeezed out for the most part and very little remains. What does remain is converted into a stable alloy by the other metals which are also part of the formula. While there has been concern about the Mercury, studies have shown it to be safe...I suspect that your interested in changing the name in order to create a panic over it's use. BY the way, you are no doubt aware that Arsenic can be a deadly poison when swallowed, are you also aware that there have been many people who have intentionally swallowed it in limited doses as a health improvement agent and to give them an extraordinarily clear complexion....No doubt the doses is very limited wouldn't you say, otherwise they would be pushing up daisy's, just as dental patients would were the amount of Mercury to much in "Silver amalgam" filings.