C 73 ] 

 XV. Intelligence and Misccllaneotis Articles. 



MR. MURRAY ON THE COMBINATION OF PHOSPHORUS WITH 

 SULPHURET OF CARBON AS CONNECTED WITH AN INSTAN- 

 TANEOUS LIGHT, &C. &C. 



T^HE compound resulting from the solution of phospliorus in 

 -^ sulphuret of carbon is one, I should think, capable of being 

 advantageously employed to ascertain slight increments of tem- 

 perature, in Gases where it might be difficult to employ other 

 means ; and also as an instantaneous light. 



It is on these accounts I would now advert to this interesting 

 compound, and to illustrations corroborating the relations re- 

 ferred to. 



The sulphuret of carbon dissolves, it is known, a very consi- 

 derable quantity of solid phosphorus and still remains liquid. 

 At a temperature of even mliiiis 80° F. it inflames — a few crystals 

 of chlorate potassa tritui-ated in contact with a very small por- 

 tion of the triple compound is accompanied by a violent ex- 

 plosion and inflammation. 



Posited on the end of the condensor in contact with amadou, 

 &c. the simplest pressure, even that of a, finger, will be suffi- 

 cient to injlame it. It kindles on the gentlest friction. 



Tlie employment of phosphorus j)er se in experiments of 

 the preceding description is to be deprecated as dangerous, be- 

 cause ignited portions are dispersed, burning with great vio- 

 lence, and often inflicting serious injury on the operator; 

 wliei-eas in the tri}:)le compound referred to no such disper- 

 sion ensues. In the small condensing machine for instan- 

 taneous light, a considerable force is necessary as well as a pe- 

 culiar management : tipt with this inflammable material, the 

 experiment may be made in a glass tube. 



Dropt into chlorine, it exhibits immediate flame. 



A slip of paper partially moistened with it, on its transit from 

 a medium of nitrous oxide into the free atmosjJicre, inflames. 



A bit of paper dipped into the inflammable liquid, and 

 brought in contact with the iodide or chloride of azote, is 

 instantly set on fire, and these violent compounds explode with 

 great ftjrce. 



When a similarly supplied slip is brought very near a 

 portion o( futminati/ig silver, and this last is touched with sul- 

 phuric acid, exi)lo.sioii ensues, and the inflammable liquid is 

 instantly kindled. 



As iiir as I have been able to ascertain the fact experi- 

 mentally, it should seem that the light which accompanies the 

 separation and expansion of elemental forms, as in the chloride 

 of azote, possesses an increment of temperature ; and it ap- 



Vol.G'J. No. 303. .////// 1823. K pears 



