406 Nciu analylkal Researches 



With llie view of examining the nature of the substances, 

 separated by the action of muriatic acid upon the sulphurets 

 and phosphurets of potassium, 1 combined a few grains of 

 sulpliur and phosphorus with one- fourth cf their weight 

 of potassium, and exposed the compounds to the action of 

 a strong soUuion of muriatic acid. As in the forniL-r eases, 

 less inflammable gns was produced than would have been 

 aflforded by equal quantities of ihc uneonibined potassium, 

 and considerable quantities of solid matter separated from 

 both compounds, which, after being washed, were col- 

 lected in a filter. 



The substance which separated from the sulphuret was 

 of a dark gray colour*, and was harsli to the touch ; it had 

 no taste, and at common temperatures no smell j but when 

 heated, it emitted the peculiar odour of sulphvir. Its spe- 

 cific gravity was rather less than thai (<f sulphur. It softened 

 at a low heat, so as to be moulded like wax between the 

 fingers. It was a non-conductor of electricity. When 

 heated upon a surface of glass, it soon fused, entered into 

 ebullition, took lire, and burnt with the same light-blue 

 flame as sulphur. A small particle of it, made to combine 

 with silver, presented the same phcenomena as sulphur. 



The substance iVom the phosphurct was of an amber 

 colour, and opaque. It could not be examined in the air, 

 in the form in which it was collected (that of a loose pow- 

 der) ; for iis soon as it was wiped dry it took fire, and burnt 

 in the same manner as phosphorus ; when melted under 

 naphtha, it was found to difter from phosphorus, in being 

 much deeper coloured, perfectly opaque, and very brittle. 

 Its fusibility was nearly the same, and, like common phos- 

 phorus, it was perfectly. non-conducting". 



In experiments upon the union of potassium with sulphur 

 and phosphorus the lieat is so intense, that when larger 

 quantities than a few grains are used, the glass tubes are 

 uniformly fused or broken in pieces, and in consequence I 

 have not been able to operate upon such a scale, as to make 

 an accurate examination of the substances just described, 

 and to determine the quantity of oxygen they absorb in 

 being converted into acid. Metallic yesstls of course can- 

 not be employed; but I intend to try tubes of porcelain, in 

 a further investigation of the subject. 



It is evident that the sulphur and phosphorus, separated 

 in these processes, arc not in their common state ; and the 

 .phaeuomena would certainly incline one to believe that they 



* Possibly this colour may have b'een produced by the decomposition of 

 a film i>f ioap of lUtphthA adhcrir.g; to the potassium. 



are 



