148 Scientific Notices — Chemistry. [Aug. 



That this is not the case, M. Vauquelin proceeds to demon- 

 strate by five experiments. 



In the first, 100 measures of perphosphuretted hydrogen gas 

 were decomposed by exposure to the sun's rays for some days ; 

 phosphorus was deposited, but the volume of the gas was not 

 sensibly diminished. 



In this experiment, M. Vauquelin observed, that the decom- 

 position was not complete ; for a portion of the gas being suffered 

 to escape some time afterwards, it inflamed, and deposited phos- 

 phorus. He observed also that the phosphorus is not deposited 

 dining exposure to the sun, but as the gas cools at night. 



One hundred measures of perphosphuretted hydrogen increased 

 about l-10th in volume by being heated with sulphur, and were 

 converted into sulphuretted hydrogen gas. 100 measures of 

 protophosphuretted hydrogen, similarly treated, were also con- 

 verted into sulphuretted hydrogen without any sensible change 

 of volume. 



In his fourth and fifth experiments, M. Vauquelin found that 

 perphosphuretted hydrogen gas is more speedily decomposed, 

 even in the dark over distilled water, both at common tempera- 

 tures, and when artificially cooled, than by exposure to the direct 

 rays of the sun ; the decomposition appears also to be more com- 

 plete. In one experiment, 125 measures lost l-25th of their 

 volume. The decomposition cannot be owing to air contained 

 in the water, for the volume of the gas is not sensibly diminished; 

 besides it is slightly soluble in water. 



M. Vauquelin concludes, therefore, that phosphuretted and 

 protophosphuretted hydrogen gases consist simply of phospho- 

 rus dissolved in hydrogen without condensation ; that each g?s 

 contains a volume of hydrogen equal to its own, and that the 

 only difference between them is in the proportion ofphosphorus 

 which they respectively contain. 



3. Supposed Neic Metal, Taschium. 



A description of a new metal, with an accompanying specimen, 

 has been sent to the President of the Royal Society. 



The metal has received the name of Taschium, from the mine 

 ofTaschioin which it was found. 



The specimen sent was said to be silver containing the new 

 metal, the two metals having been separated by amalgamation, 

 and the mercury afterwards driven off. On dissolving the but- 

 ton in pure nitric acid, it was stated that the Taschium would 

 remain as a black powder. 



The Taschium was described as being combustible with a 

 bluish flame, a peculiar smell, and dissipation of the products. 

 Amalgamating with mercury, and in that way being separated 

 from its ores. Not soluble in any single acid, but soluble in 

 nitro-muriatic acid. If previously boiled with potash, then 



