IV.—CHEMISTRY. 
Art. LXI.—On the Preparation of Spontaneously Inflammable Phosphine. 
By T. A. Motzer. 
[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 13th October, 1881.] 
Plate XXXVIL., fig. 1. 
PyospnuretTep hydrogen, now generally known as phosphine, being one 
of the gases commonly made for experimental purposes by the practical 
student in the chemical laboratory, it is essential that the apparatus for 
its production should be so contrived as to avoid all risk of an explosion. 
In the preparation of spontaneously inflammable phosphine it is usual 
to employ a glass flask, fitted with delivery tube, to contain the alkaline 
solution and phosphorus, from which the gas is generated. Before applying 
heat to the flask a current of coal-gas is passed through, in order to displace 
the contained air; and the chief fault of the apparatus rests in the fact that, 
unless this is continued for some time, it is impossible to expel all the air 
from the vessel. Instead of using gas to displace the air, ether is sometimes 
poured into the flask; but this is open to the same objection, letting alone 
the expensiveness of the liquid employed. 
Another and more satisfactory method of producing the gas is to gene- 
rate it in a glass retort completely filled with the alkaline solution, the 
mouth, of course, being immersed in the water of the pneumatic trough. 
By this means we at once get rid of every particle of air, and all chance of 
an explosion is done away with. There is, however, one fault to be found 
with this form of generator. A considerable quantity of solution must be 
used, and as most of this has to be heated to a high temperature, some delay 
takes place before the required gas is given off. 
To avoid all these difficulties I have designed a piece of apparatus which 
is both simple and effective. An ordinary glass flask is taken and fitted 
with cork and delivery tube; but in addition to this, also passing through 
the cork, is a deflagrating spoon, which should be so adjusted that the bowl 
is about half an inch above the surface of the liquid when in the flask 
(pl. XXXVIL., fig. 1). ‘The pieces of phosphorus and the solution of caustic 
able gas, combines with the phosphorus to form 
