PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 507 



Mr. C. W. Smith offered friction matches, in which paraphine 

 takes the place of sulphur. 



Referred to the Chemical Section. 



On motion of Mr. Stetson, all the members of the Polytechnic 

 Association were invited to meet with the Mechanical Section to 

 consult with regard to articles offered for premiums. 



The Chairman extended to members a similar invitation, on 

 behalf of the Chemical Section. 



Mr. Roosevelt effered a new theory of chemistry, which was 

 referred to the Chemical Section. 



Dr. Vanderweyde also offered the following : 



NEW CHEMICAL COMPOUND. 



Dr. Vanderweyde. — I have discovered a new compound of 

 phosphorous and carbon, which I neglected to speak of at the 

 last meeting. The books mention a compound of phosphorous 

 and carbon, obtained as a residue. Carbon and phosphorous 

 being united, and while in a soft state, the phosphorous being 

 pressed out, a residue is obtained very similar to phosphorous 

 in its properties, inflaming and melting at the same temperature 

 with phosphorous. I suppose that is not properly a compound 

 of phosphorous and carbon, but a mixture of phosphorous and 

 carbon in a finely divided state. In every instance of chemical 

 compounds, we find the characteristics of the compound very 

 different from those of the constituents. Thus vermilion is a 

 compound of sulphur and mercury. Sulphur is a yellow solid ; 

 mercury is a white liquid metal, and the result is a red paint. 

 So with the sulphide of carbon, of which so much has been said 

 recently. Sulphur and carbon are solids, but the sulphide of 

 carbon is a very volatile liquid. I should supppose, therefore, 

 that the phosphide of carbon would have a different nature from 

 phosphorous or carbon. 



I undertook to make the combination in the same way that the 

 bisulphide of carbon is produced. I arranged a tube in the mode 

 employed in that process, in which the tube being filledwith carbon 

 and heated, pieces of sulphur are dropped in at one end, the liquid 

 product comes out at the other end. In the place of sulphur I 

 used phosphorous; but although the tube, was kept red hot, 

 nothing came out at the other end, neither gas nor liquid. So I 

 concluded that the result of the combination was a solid, which 

 proved to be the fact. Upon opening the tube the compound took 

 fire, but I plunged it in water and extinguished the flame. I 



