356 MR. GROVE ON THE GAS VOLTAIC BATTERY. 



phosphorus in gas, is not due to any peculiarity of nitrogen, and is not peculiar to 

 any particular gas, as once believed ; but being in all probability common to all gases 

 which do not exercise a specific action on the phosphorus, it may be more properly 

 called a volatilization of phosphorus at ordinary temperatures than a solubility in 

 gas ; the ordinary slow combustion of phosphorus in air is, in fact, a combustion of its 

 vapour. I incline to think that the inferiority of its vaporization in pure oxygen is 

 due to a protecting film being formed, and that the phenomenon is in some respects 

 analogous to the inactivity of iron in nitric acid. 



(39.) Phosphorus in nitrogen was associated with hydrogen in the gas battery to 

 ascertain their voltaic relation ; the hydrogen was positive to the phosphorus, i. e, 

 represented the zinc of an ordinary voltaic combination. 



(40.) To realize the curious novelty of two non-conducting solids forming the 

 elements of a voltaic battery, and producing a continuous current, phosphorus sus- 

 pended in nitrogen in one tube of a gas battery was associated with iodine in nitrogen 

 in the other ; a very decided current was the result, which continued for months, the 

 nitrogen remaining unaltered in volume, but the liquid becoming gradually tinged 

 by the excess of iodine vapour. The following is the result of the experiment : — 



Charged January 1, 1845. Examined May 17, 1845. 



Weight of iodine . . =5 "9 grains. Weight of iodine . . =4*6 grains. 



Weight of phosphorus . =6*4 grains. Weight of phosphorus . =6*28 grains. 



The phosphorus has consequently lost 0*12 grain, the iodine I'S. Assuming that 

 the phosphorus consumed 3 equivalents of oxygen, as in experiments (33.), (34.), 

 (35.), (37.), we should have 3 equivalents of hydrogen eliminated, and consequently 

 3 of iodine consumed, or 



31-4 : 126-6 : : 0-12 : 0*48 

 0'48X3 = l-44. 



The result is tolerably near, but from the iodine vapour in solution an excess and 

 not a deficit in the consumption of this was to have been expected. 



(41.) It was necessary for my own satisfaction to make a great number of other 

 experiments for the purpose of checking and eliminating any adventitious results 

 which might possibly interfere with the actual voltaic action of the gas battery, such 

 as placing phosphorus in single tubes containing the different gases, but with platinum 

 foil and without associated tubes, others without the platinum foil or associated tubes ; 

 but as these had no influence on the results, and were merely used as tests for my 

 bwn satisfaction, it would be useless and tedious to detail them. 



(42.) Having examined the action of phosphorus in the gas battery under these 

 various circumstances, my next step was to ascertain if any other substance produced 

 a similar effect. Sulphur, the nearest analogue of phosphorus, was the body which 

 naturally presented itself, but from its different characteristics required a different 

 mode of manipulation. The following was adopted. Into a little capsule of glass. 



