phofphor'ifed Hydrogen Gas. J <Jf 



Wards remains in the retort after the difengagement of this 

 gas has entirely ceafed, is nothing elfe than pure water, 

 having neither odour, tafte nor colour, and perfectly re- 

 fembling water newly diftilled. 



When brought into contact with atmofpheric air, this 

 lolution foon fuffers to be deposited a remarkable quantity of 

 red oxyd of phofphorus, and at the fame time fuffers to be 

 diftngaged hydrogen gas, which is no longer fufceptible of 

 inflammation, except when brought into contact with a 

 body in a ftate of ignition. If the folution be long expofed 

 to the air, and if the points of contact be frequently re- 

 newed by agitation, it becomes completely decompofed ; 

 that is to fay, is entirely refolvcd into phofphorus, oxyd, and 

 pure hydrogen gas. 



Tinfture of turnfol and that of violets experience no 

 change in their colour from being in contact with liquid 

 phofphorifed hydrogen ; which proves that this liquor is 

 neither acid nor alkaline. 



The fulphuric and nitric acids, or the Ample or oxygenated 

 muriatic, when poured over this liquor, produce no effect 

 worthy of notice. 



Potafh, foda and ammonia aft in the fame manner. 



The oxyds of mercury and lead are fpeedily reduced, and 

 immediately converted into metallic phofphurets, by being 

 mixed with the folution of phofphorifed hydrogen gas. 



When poured into nitrat of filver, this folution immedi- 

 ately produces a very abundant black precipitate, which does 

 not in the leaft change its colour, and which, when tried 

 by the blow-pipe, exhibits the characters belonging to me- 

 tallic phofphurets. 



When brought into contaft with a folution of mercury 

 by nitric acid, it gives alfo immediately a very confiderable 

 precipitate, which has firft a black colour, but which be- 

 comes white and cryftallifed in proportion as it paffes from 

 the ftate of phofphuret to that of mercurial phofphat, by 

 imbibing oxygen, either from the nitric acid in which the 

 precipitation takes place, or from the atmofpheric air 

 with which it is in contaft. 



A folution of lead by the nitric acid is alfo decompofed 



by 



