Exper'wients on the Solutions of Phofphorus. Ata 



acid, with the folution of pot-afli, with the liquid nitrate of lime, and with the folution of 

 various alkaline falts. 



EXP. XIV. Sulphuric Ether di/Jhlves Phofphorus. 



I LEFT, during fixteen days, in a well clofed cryftal decanter, two cylinders of good 

 phofphorus, with fome ounces of fulphuric ether. 



This liquid did not appear to have loll its ufual fmell, as was the cafe with alkohol. It 

 was very tranfparent ; and, upon being decanted into another bottle and agitated in ob- 

 fcurity, there were no figns of phofphorefcence. I afterwards poured fome drops into water 

 which I had put in another bottle ; but here alfo I obferved no appearance of light, though 

 the place of operation was pcrfedly dark. 



The phofphorated ether was feen in the light floating upon the water, and very limpid. 

 I added a fmall quantity of alkchol to this mixture, which immediately rendered it turbid 

 like milk. This phenomenon may afford a fure means of afcertaining the purity of ether. 

 The mixture agitated in every dire£lion afforded no light ; but light appeared with much 

 vivacity and at feveral repetitions after the mixture had been a little heated. A great 

 jiumber of luminous points appeared on the furface of the water after it had been lon<T 

 agitated. I made this experiment in a bottle of a certain fize, doling and unclofmg it 

 fometimes in order that the white vapours might ifliie out, in proportion as they were 

 formed. 



The following are the confcquences which I have deduced from the foregoing experi- 

 ments : 



1. Phofphorus is very readily diflblved in pure oxygene gas at a mean temperature 

 (Exp. I.) without emitting light ; and the phofphorated oxygene gas fliines when it is dif- 

 fufed in any other azotic or mephitic gas. (Exp. II. and III) This phenomenon appears 

 to me to depend on the agitation which the integral parts of the oxygene gas and phof- 

 phorus undergo when another gas Is mixed with them, and from the diminution of aflinlty 

 between the integral parts even of the oxygene gas, cfteQed by the addition of the new 

 gas. By this diminution of affinity, if phofphorus is placed In the fphere of chemical at- 

 traflion with the oxygene, the oxygene gas becomes decompofed, and the phofphorus 

 burns. 



2. Phofphorus is likewlfe fpeedily diflblved in inflammable gas (Exp. IF. J and this 

 phofphorated gas burns when it is brought into contaft with any oxygene gas. 



3. The oxygenated muriatic acid gas fuddenly burns phofphorus. The oxvgene g.is 

 which contains this acid is decompofed by the phofphorus, which rapidly combines with 

 the oxygene (Plxp. V. VI. VII.) to form pliolphoric acid ; and tlie concrete caloric, or 

 other component principles of the oxygenated muriatic acid gas, being fet at liberty, ralfcs 

 the temperature, and melts the phofphorus which is not ycl oxygenated. 



4. Phofphorus is not foluble in pure carbonic acid gas (Exp. VIII.); neverthclcfs, at 

 the temperature of 12 degrees above o of the tliermomcter of Reaumur, it burns better in 

 this gas mixed with a fmall portion of oxygene gaf, than when in atmofpheric air at the fame 

 temperature. 



5. Water does not diflijlve phofphorus, but it holds very fmall particles in a flatc of 

 tufpcnnon, more cfpecially thofe which arc impregnated with a principle of conibulUon, 



VuL. I.— January 1798. 3 M and 



