6 Some Expeiimpnts and Observalmis on a netv S^ihstance 



by solution of potassa not in excess eifcivesccd, and afforded the 

 peculiar siibstmice. 



The acid formed by the solution of the suljstance united to 

 chlorine reddened vegetable blues by its immediate contact, and 

 isoon after destroyed them. 



\Vlien the new substance was heated in oxygen gas, or brought 

 in contact with red hot hyperoxymuriate of potassa, it seemed 

 to undergo no change. 



MM. Desormes and Clement had stated, that, when the sub- 

 stance is combined with the metals, metallic oxides could be 

 obtained from the solutions; I suspected that this depended 

 upon the presence of moisture, or upon oxygen derived from 

 the air, and ex]jeriment justified my suspicion, 



I heated the substance with iron, mercury, tin, zinc, and lead, 

 out of the contact of air; it united to them without any violence 

 of action, aiul formed compounds fuiible at a moderate heat, 

 and volatile at a higher temperature. All the compounds, ex- 

 cept that of zinc, which was white, v,-ere coloured of different 

 shades of red brown, red and ora.nge ; the compound it formed 

 with tin was of a deep orange, that witli iron of a bright red 

 brown, that with lead a bright orange, that with mercury an 

 orange still more approaching to red, and which, when crystal- 

 lized, wa:5 bright 'criniso'.:. 



The compound of iron and the s\il;stance, when exposed to 

 an alkaline '-oluticn, immediately deposited black oxide of iron ; 

 but when I heated it in a small retort cciitaining pure ammo- 

 niacal gas, no such change 'occurred, and it combined with the 

 ammonia, and formed a compound which volatilized v.ithout 

 leaving any oxide. 



The compound of the substance with tin was soluble in water, 

 and had the characters of an acid. It combined witii the alkalies 

 without depositing oxide. 



The crimson compound of the substance with mercury united 

 in the same manner without decomposition to potassa, and by 

 the action of sulphuric acid, sulphate of potassa was formed, 

 and the compound of the substance with mercury disengaged. 



When the substance is made to act upon phosphorus, the tvv'o 

 bodies combine with great rapiditv at common temperatures, 

 producing heat without light; small quantities of a strongly 

 acid g£is generally arise from the mixture, and bv the application 

 of heat it is produced in grei'ter quantities. When the sub- 

 stance is in excess, an easily fusible and volatile compouiid of a 

 red colour is obtained ; when the phosphorus is in excess, the 

 greater part of the j^roduct is more fixed. 



I examined the gaseous acid formed by tlie action of phos- 

 phorus M'ith attention. It gives dense white fumes by corn- 



bining 



