Refidue of Ether.'-'Phofphoret of Carbon. 355 



water by virtus of the fulphureous acid it contains : oxigenatcd muriatic acid difcolours 

 this brown liquid ; which, in his opinion) proves that this colouring material refembles 

 the juices of vegetables. The coaly fubftance which is feparated during the formation of 

 fulphuric ether has alfo been made an objeft of M. Prouft's refearches : when dried it re- 

 fembles lamp black [noir de futnee) as well in its black colour, its brittlenefs, and 

 its fliining colour. If cxpofed to heat, it emits a fmell of fulphureous acid mixed with 

 that burning lac. Boiling water diflblves 0.24 parts of this fubftance, alcohol as many as 

 0.44, and this folution is not rendered turbid by water. Thefe two folutions are proper 

 for the formation of brown dyes by means of the muriate of tin. 



The folution of the coaly fubftance of the ether in alcohol affords, by evaporation, a 

 black friable and nearly infipid powder. 5.31 grammes (100 Fr. grains) of this fubftance 

 diftilled produced an aromatic water, light and empyreumatic oils, vegetable acid mixed 

 with a little fulphuric acid, and carbonated oily hydrogen gas, mixed with about a third 

 of carbonic acid. The coal which remained in the diftilling veff^l weighed 0.64 grammes 

 ( 1 2 Fr. grains) ; it left, after combuftion, fome aflies, in which analyfis difcovered the pre- 

 fence of lime and magnefia. M. Prouft, indeed, fufpeds that there is a fmall quantity of 

 filiceous earth and alumine in it. Here, then, obferves this flcilful chemift, we have earthy 

 afhes, which accompany carbon even into alcohol. 



M. Prouft concludes that the principles of the alcohol in forming ether by the a£lion of 

 the fulphuric acid become united in other orders, and produce a fubftance analogous to the 

 juices of vegetables, fince, during the fummer, it is covered with mouldinefs like a 

 vegetable deco£lion. 



M. Prouft alfo difcovered that, during the diftillation of phofphorus, a combination of 

 this fubftance with charcoal is conftantly formed, and that it is this combination which 

 remains in the chamois leather after phofphorus has been pafli;d through it for its purifica- 

 tion, after the manner of Pelletier. It is of a red colour, and does not melt like pure phof- 

 phorus. If it be diftilled by a gentle heat, a portion of phofphorus is feparated, which 

 exceeded the point of faturation ; but the true combination is not decompofed, unlefs the 

 degree of heat be confiderably augmented. When the vefTels become cool, a powder re- 

 mains of lively orange red, light, floculent, and very homogeneous through its whole mafs ; 

 M. Prouft confiders this produiSl: as an intimate union of carbon and phofphorur. 

 The following are fome of its properties which he defcribes. If, whilft it is ftill in the 

 retort, the temperature be fufHciently ralfed to ignite the bottom, a frefh quantity of 

 phofphorus is fublimed, and the refidue is then mere coal. It burns rapidly when placed 

 upon a plate of hot metal ; but the coal, by imbibing phofphoric acid, eludes the com.i 

 buftion. By expofure to the air, it foon lofes this difpofition to take fire, and may thett 

 be preferved without any danger. It is without fmell or tafte. It is this combination, 

 according co M. Prouft, which forms the red refidues which remain without alteration in 

 the apparatus in which phofphorus is prepared. Its properties ferve to explain the origio 

 of a black powder which fom? oJiemifts have obferycd in phofphorus. There cannot be a 



Z z 2 ftrongef 



