ANALYTICAL EXPERIMENTS ON PHOSPHORUS ^21) 



The phosphuret acted upon over mercury by solution of 

 tnuriatic acid evolved only one cubical inch and three quar- 

 ters of phosphuretted bid ro gen. 



From this experiment there is great reason to suppose, Phosphuretted 



that phosphuretted hidrogen contains a minute proportion J". gei ? con "" 

 r * b ft tains oxigen. 



of oxigen, and consequently that phosphorus likewise may 

 contain it; but the action of potassium on phosphorus 

 itself furnishes perhaps more direct evidences of the cir- 

 cumstance. 



One grain of potassium and one grain of phosphorus Phosphorus 

 were fused together in a proper apparatus. They combined p""^ J* " 

 with the production of the most vivid light and intense 

 ignition. During the process one tenth of a cubical inch of 

 phosphuretted hidrogen was evolved. The phosphuret 

 formed, exposed to the action of diluted muriatic acid over 

 mercury, produced exactly three tenths of a cubical inch 

 of phosphuretted hidrogen. 



In a second experiment, one grain of potassium was Experiment re- 

 fused with three grains of phosphorus ; in this case nearly IJCal " ' 

 a quarter of a cubical inch of phosphuretted hidrogen was 

 generated during the ignition. But from the compound ex- 

 posed to muriatic acid, only one tenth of a cubical inch 

 could be procured. 



Now it is not easy to refer the deficiency of phosphuretted Phosphor 

 hidrogen in the second case to any other cause, than to the C0ntiUns0Xlsen * 

 supply of oxigen to the potassium from the phosphorus : 

 and the quantity of phosphuretted hidrogen evolved in the 

 first case is much less than could be expected, if both 

 potassium and phosphorus consisted merely of pure com- 

 bustible matter. 



The phosphoric acid, formed by the combustion of phos- Phosphoric acid 

 phorus, though a crystalline solid, may still contain water. may COIlUil " 

 The hidrogen evolved from phosphorus by electricity proves 

 indeed, that this must be the case; and though the quantity 

 of hidrogen and oxigen in phosphorus may be exceedingly 

 small, yet they may be sufficient to give it peculiar charac. 

 ters ; and till the basis is obtained free, we shall have no 

 knowledge of the properties of the pure phosphoric ele- 

 ment, 



5. On 



