Dr. Kane on the Combinations derived from Pyroacetic Spirit. 113 



corresponding to 



Hydrogen = 3.65 

 Carbon =19.49 

 There are two formula by which the properties of this salt can be explained, 

 and with which the analytical results harmonize. One of these assumes the 

 phosphorus to exist half as phosphoric acid and half as phosphuretted hydrogen, 

 the salt containing no water. In the other the phosphorus is represented as being 

 all as hypo-phosphorous acid, while the salt contains an atom of water chemically 

 united, and which cannot be expelled by any temperature not producing complete 

 decomposition. Thus, 



Pj05+2Bao-|-2(c6H5o) + PjH3 gives 



175.0 100.0 



Of these two formulae, I consider the latter to be much the more probable. 

 We have,''even in the inorganic kingdom, but very few examples of phosphuretted 

 hydrogen replacing water, either when the latter is basic or as water of crystalli- 

 zation ; and the relation which the oxygen of the two oxides bears to that of the 

 phosphoric acid is not any of those usually met with in the phosphates. On the 

 contrary, the latter formula gives the composition of a basic iiypophosphite, which 

 the addition of four atoms of oxygen would change into an ordinary phosphate ; 



VOL, XVIII. Q 



