What is the major component of dental amalgam by percentage weight?

Dental amalgam is a mixture of liquid elemental mercury with a powdered alloy of silver, tin, and copper. Approximately 50% of dental amalgam by weight is elemental mercury — making it the largest single component. The powdered alloy (the other 50%) consists primarily of silver (~65-70% of the alloy), with tin (~25-30%), and copper (~5-13%). Mercury's liquid state allows it to react chemically with and bind the alloy particles during trituration to form a plastic mass that hardens (sets) through crystalline phase changes. The FDA acknowledges that dental amalgam releases small amounts of mercury vapor, though the majority of evidence indicates this is below harmful levels for most patients.