VOLTAIC ACTION OF PHOSPHORUS, SULPHUR AND HYDROCARBONS. 353 



phorus was charged at the same time ; the whole was carefully closed from the atmo- 

 sphere and set by for twenty-four hours in closed circuit, to get rid of any current 

 from adventitious circumstances ; the next day, when tested by the galvanometer and 

 iodide of potassium, a very decided action was apparent in the phosphorus battery, 

 the iodide being decomposed and the galvanometer needle swinging round to 30°, 

 the nitrogen with the phosphorus representing the zinc of an ordinary voltaic combi- 

 nation ; the check experiment gave not the least deflection or decomposition. The 

 experiments were suffered to remain in closed circuit for four months, from August 

 10th to December 14th, 1844, having been frequently tested in the interim, and the 

 galvanometer always evidencing a continuous voltaic action in the phosphorus battery. 

 On the 14th of December, the water in the oxygen tube having by its rise denoted 

 the absorption of a cubic inch of oxygen plus the slight quantity 0*05 cubic inch of 

 oxygen due to solution, as proved by comparison with the second battery, the expe- 

 riment was examined ; the result was as follows : — 



Rise of liquid in oxygen tube 1 cubic inch. In nitrogen tube 0. 



Original weight of phosphorus 9*6 grains. 

 Present weight of phosphorus 9'2 grains. 



The battery was again charged in a similar manner, and put by on the 19th De- 

 cember 1844 ; the phosphorus weighed 2*8 grains. This, in consequence of the ex- 

 tremely cold weather which has prevailed almost without intermission from that time 

 to the present period, proceeded much more slowly, and was not examined until May 

 17th, 1845, when the results were as follows : — 



Permanent deflection of galvanometer 8°. 



Rise of liquid in oxygen tube 0'35 cubic inch. In nitrogen tube 0. 



Weight of phosphorus =2*65. 



Taking a mean of these two experiments, which in their relative results approximate 

 more closely than I could have anticipated under the circumstances, we get 0*415 as 

 the proportional weight of phosphorus lost for a cubic inch of oxygen. Now as 

 24 : 31*4 : : 0*34 : 0*444. The result of these experiments therefore leaves no doubt 

 that phosphorous acid is the product of the voltaic action, as it is of the slow com- 

 bustion of phosphorus in air. The experiment was repeated with distilled water ; 

 the action was at first very trifling, but increased every day, and the water gradually 

 acquired an acid reaction. 



No light was apparent in any part of the apparatus when examined in the dark, 

 indeed the action was much too slow to render such an eff"ect probable ; though if 

 subsequently by heat or other means I should succeed, as I hope, in producing light, 

 it will be curious to observe in what part of the circuit the luminous effect in the 

 voltaic combustion is perceptible. 



A series of ten cells of phosphorus and nitrogen associated with oxygen were 

 charged, and perceptibly decomposed water with platinum electrodes. 



3 a2 



