Ordinary Meeting, October ITtli, 1871. 

 Rev. William Gaskell, M.A., Yice-Prcsident; in the Chair. 



" On the Oxychloridcs of Antimony," by Mr. WiLLlAM 

 Carleton Williams, Student in the Laboratory of Owens 

 College, communicated by Professor H. E. Roscoe, F.Pv.S. 



Phosphorus Oxychloride PO CI3 having been prepared by 

 heating together one molecule of phosphorus pentoxide with 

 three of pentachloride, it appeared not unlikely that a simi- 

 lar reaction might occur with antimony giving rise to the 

 missing oxychloride corresponding to the phosphorus 

 compound above mentioned. 



The following investigation was undertaken at Dr. 

 Roscoe's request with the view of elucidating the above re- 

 action as no oxychloridcs derived from the pentachloride 

 have as yet been, described. 



A mixture of one molecule of antimony pentoxide pre- 

 pared by heating the pentachloride with water witli three 

 molecules of the pentachloride was heated for some hours 

 in sealed tubes to 140" C. On opening the tube after cooling- 

 it was found to contain, besides unchanged pentachloride and 

 pentoxide, two distinct solid crystalline compounds. When 

 the pentoxide prepared by the action of nitric acid on the 

 metal is heated with the pentachloride in a similar way no 

 oxychloride is formed. 



One of these fuses at 85" C. to a clear yellowish liquid, 

 whilst the other, produced only in small quantities, is 

 found adhering to the top of the tube in minute yellow- 

 ish crystals, which fuse at a higher temperature. In 

 order to obtain the first of these substances in a pure 

 state it is sufficient to place the tube upright in a vessel of 

 water at 90" with the empty end downwards ; the fusible 

 oxychloride then melts and collects as a perfectly clear 

 yellowish liquid. After cooling, the tube is opened and the 



