ACTION OF PHOSPHORUS. 139 



liame* publlflied experiments on the reduction of fome metals 

 by phofphorus difTolved in ether. Laflly, Mr. Schnaubert Schnauberf a 

 has undertaken a new inveftigation of the fubjefl, the prin- *P"*™^*^^=»' 

 cipal relults ol" which are as follows; 



Gold. 



Two little bits of phofphorus were put into a nitro-murlatlcGold completely 

 folution of gold diluted with a fmall portion of water. At the P'^^'f,'/"^/'^ '" » 



" , '^ , metallic form by 



expiration of twenty-four hours the folution was completely phofphorus. 



coiourlefs, and pellicles of the colour of metallic gold fwam 

 on the furface of tlie liquid. The phofphorus itfelf was co- 

 vered with a deep brown coating, and in this was obfervabie 

 in feveral places thin layers of reducec'l gold. At the place 

 where the phofphorus was a black circle was perceived. 

 The folution thus treated by phofphorus, had not a fiugle 

 atom of gold left in it. 



Silver, 



Some phofphorus, which was left for twenty-four hours In Silver prcdpl- 

 a nitric folution of lilver diluted by water, was completely ^f'^Jj^^'"'^''''"^ 

 covered with metallic filver in the form of dendrites, the ra- 

 mifications of which were dire6led upwards. During ebulli-^'^'^^ ^"''j'^S 

 tion this remarkable cryftallization of lilver, which made the phofphi 

 phofphorus appear as if garnifhed with points, atTumed firfl a 

 white colour, and afterward formed a light black mafs, which 

 at length became of a light brown colour. 



mre. 



2uickjlher. 

 Mercury difiblved in nitric acid is preciplfaled on the phof- ^^""c^fy f^ci- 

 phorus in the form of little metallic gkibules, which cover it buies ^°" 

 entirely. By heating to ebullition the mercurial globules dif- which heat con- 

 appear, and a black mafs without any metallic lutire is formed. pJu^J" a p lo - 



Lead. 



At the ordinary temperature phofphorus did not a6l on the Lead not re- 

 nitric folution df lead, though the digeftion was continued for |j^j"j^ ^j^^°"'* 

 feveral days : at a boiling heat however a change was ob- 

 ferved in the phofphorus, which was covered with a grey 

 colour nightly metallic. 



* Eflay on Combuftlon, &c. 



Copper, 



