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XLIX. Vreparatlon of the Vhofphuret of Lime. By 

 J.B. Van MoNS*. 



PhOSPHURET of lime affords to the amateurs of amufing 

 chemiltrv a curious compound, on account ot llie property it 

 has0fdiYen.va.rin2;, when a few hits of it are thrown mto 

 water, a quantity^ of gafeous buhbles, which, on reachmg 

 the furface of that liquid, inflame ipontaneoufly with a beau- 

 tiful white flame, and o;ive rife to fuccelhve detonations, 

 which may be compared~to a running fire ot mulketry. but 

 the preparation of this phofphurct is often unattended w'llh 

 fuccefs on account of the air, which, by lollowmg the ulual 

 procefs, cannot be excluded from the velTels, and which ox- 

 idates and even acidifies the phofphorus ; in which caie, the 

 combuftible lofing its adion on the water, no detonating gas 

 is engendered ; and the correaion, by which the inconve- 

 nience of oxidation is avoided, bv putting the pholphorus at 

 the bottom of the veffel, and the lime at the top, does not 

 give a homogeneous produft, but a faturated phoiphuret, by 

 the vaporization of the phofphuret, which brings it to a Itate 

 improper for uniting ilfclf with the lime. Thefe difterent 

 obfiacles may be avoided by proceedmg m the tollowing 

 manner: , . , 



Fill a fmall glafs matrafs, with a flat bottom and a ong 

 narrow neck, two-thirds, with one part of carbonated linic 

 (while marble, waflied chalk, or prepared oyller-fliells). 

 Place the matrafs in a fandbath, and apply a heat capable 

 of expelling the carbonic acid from the lime. When you 

 think that°the dccarbcmization is near an end, introduce in 

 portions a third part of phofphorus, at very fmall intervals, 

 and conftantlv maintaining the matter at a dark red heat. 

 The phofphorus fufcd, and prevented from burning by a re- 

 mainder of carbonic acid gas which is diiengaged from the 

 lime, diffufes itfelf throughout the whole mals ot the mat- 

 ter, contrails an union with the lime, lofes its volatility, and 

 forms phofphuret. After the whole phofpliorus is intro- 

 duced, let the fire be fuddenly flackcned, and hop the ma- 

 trafs with a (topiier having a pneumatic valve to inevent ac- 

 cefs of the air, and to luiler to efcape the gas which the mat- 

 ter that remains fome lime pufted up continues to dilengage. 

 When the nialter is luHicienlly cooled, take it trom i he 

 matrafs, and put it, taking care not to touch it with the 



•♦ I- rum -Journal ile Cbimie el ,lf P/'vfl'/ur, p„r J. U. \'^" M^"'' !^"- "'• 



