1820.] of Chlorine and Carbon, $c. 41 



leaves the sulphur unaltered ; but when the mixed vapours are 

 raised to a still higher temperature, chloride of sulphur and 

 protochloride of carbon are formed. Sometimes there are ap- 

 pearances as if a carburet of sulphur were formed, but of this 

 I have not satisfied myself. 



Phosphorus at low temperatures melts and unites with the 

 substance without any decomposition. If heated in the vapour 

 of the substance, but not too highly, it takes away chlorine, 

 and forms the protochlorides of phosphorus and carbon. If 

 heated more highly, it frequently inflames in the vapour with a 

 brilliant combustion, and abundance of charcoal is deposited. 

 Sometimes 1 have had the charcoal left in films stretching across 

 the tubes, and occupying the space where the flame passed. 

 The appearance is then very beautiful. 



When phosphorus is heated with the vapour of the substance 

 over mercury, so as not to inflame in it, there is generally a 

 small portion of muriatic acid gas formed. If great care be 

 taken, this is in very minute quantity ; and its variable propor- 

 tion sufficiently shows, that the hydrogen which forms it does 

 not come from the substance. I am induced to believe that it 

 is derived from moisture adhering to the phosphorus. The 

 action of iodine on phosphorus shows that it is very difficult to 

 dry the latter substance perfectly. 



A stick of phosphorus put into the alcoholic or sethereal 

 solution of the perchloride did not exert any action upon it. . 



Charcoal heated in the vapour of the substance appears to 

 have no action upon it. 



Most of the metals decompose it at high temperatures. Po- 

 tassium burns brilliantly in the vapour, depositing charcoal and 

 forming chloride of potassium. Iron, zinc, tin, copper and 

 mercury act on it at a red heat, forming chlorides of those 

 metals and depositing charcoal ; and when the experiments 

 are made with pure substances, and very carefully, no other 

 results are obtained. Some of the substance was passed over 

 iron turnings heated in a glass tube. At the commencement of 

 the sublimation of the chloride through the hot iron, the com- 

 mon air of the vessels was expelled, and received in different 

 tubes : but before one-third of the substance had been passed, 

 all liberation of gas ceased, and the remainder was decom- 

 posed by the iron, without the production of any gaseous mat- 



