Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 79 



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they are heated together, the results are the phosphoric and sulphurous 

 acids. The nitric and nitrous acids attack it with extreme energy ; they 

 inflame it suddenly, and convert it into phosphoric acid : this is re- 

 markable, considering that the red oxide resists the influence of heat 

 and air much better than phosphorus, upon which cold nitric acid has 

 scarcely any action. 



It is probable that the extreme energy of this combustion depends 

 upon the minute division of the oxide, and that phosphorus would 

 exhibit similar phenomena if it were possible to obtain it in very fine 

 powder. 



The red oxide of phosphorus thrown into either dry or moist 

 chlorine suddenly inflames, and phosphoric acid and perchloride of 

 phosphorus are formed. It detonates with extreme violence when put 

 in contact in the cold with chlorate of potash. Sulphur decomposes 

 it only when near its fusing point, and without detonation. The oxide 

 was analysed by converting it into phosphoric acid by means of the 

 nitric acid, and ascertaining the quantity of oxygen it absorbed. M. 

 Pelouze gives as its composition, 



Phosphorus 85 5 



Oxygen 14*5 



1000 

 Now if, with Dr. Thomson, an atom of phosphorus be reckoned 16, 

 a compound of three atoms of phosphorus and one of oxygen would 



consist of Phosphorus Sb'7 



Oxygen 143 



100-0— Ibid. torn. 1. p. 83. 



HYDRATE OF PHOSPHORUS. 



M. Pelouze states, that this matter, which was supposed to be hy- 

 drated oxide of phosphorus, is white, insipid, and insoluble in water. 

 Its odour is similar to that of phosphorus, and it is also luminous in 

 the dark. Its density is 1*515 at 60° Fahr. ; when put into contact 

 with cold sulphuric acid, it is decomposed, giving its water to the 

 acid, and the phosphorus is set free. 



At a temperature of 1 10° of Fahr. and even a little under, the hy- 

 drate of phosphorus decomposes also into phosphorus, which appears 

 with all its physical and chemical properties, and water. It does 

 not contain more oxide than phosphorus which has been distilled, 

 and is perfectly transparent. 



In order to determine the quantity of water contained in this com- 

 pound, it was dried on filtering paper, and heated in a weighed tube 

 placed in water heated to 112° Fahr. The water was absorbed by- 

 paper, and found to amount to 12"53 per cent. A compound of four 

 atoms of phosphorus and oue atom of water would consist of 



Phosphorus 87 '48 



Water 12-52 



lOO'OO— 76itf. 



