DANGER OP PHOSPHORIC PREPARATIONS. . 217 



III 



Caution againfi the Danger of leaving Phofphoric Preparations in 

 the Vicinity of Wood. Bj/ a Correfpondent. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 



March 1, 1803, 

 S I R, 



ACCIDENTS in chemical experiments not feldom afford 

 ufeful facls or fuggeftions ; but I am doubtful whether or no 

 the following occurrence will be thought worth notice in your 

 Journal : however, the account of it is at your fervice. 



While at leclure this morning, we were fuddenly annoyed Narrative of fire 

 by a column of white fumes ifluing from amongft bottles of ox id u i e ofphof- 

 preparations on a (lielf, which was foon followed by flame, phorus. 

 On examination I found the inflammation proceeded from a 

 bottle containing lime, into which phofphorus had fublimed in 

 the upper part of a tube in the making of phofphuret of lime. 

 This was not therefore phofphuret of lime, but only the mix- 

 ture of particles of ignited phofphorus, with pulverized lime 

 fcarcely ignited. In this cireumftance the phofphorus I know- 

 becomes oxigenized to be in the ftate of oxidule, if not of oxide; 

 which compofition it is well known, I fuppofe, is employed 

 for the charging of little bottles to inflame fulphur matches by 

 mere friclion of them within fide of the bottle. In the prefent 

 cafe, the bottle containing the lime with phofphorus had 

 cracked, fo as to admit air, which excited the inflammation at 

 the temperature of about 65°. Such preparations fiiould 

 therefore be kept out of the way of wood, or any inflammable 

 fubftance, for if this accident had happened when no one was 

 prefent, the whole laboratory would have been fet on fire. 



Your's truly. 



IV. Dejcription 



