Amorphous Phosphorus, 98 



Art. XI. — Amorphous Phosphorus. 

 By Professor Andrew. 



[Read before the Royal Society of Victoria, 16th November, 1876.] 



In 1873 I noticed on the surface of a quantity of choco- 

 late-coloured^ amorphous phosphorus, a quantity of clear, 

 syrupy liquid, having a strong acid reaction. It appeared 

 to contain phosphorous acid, but there are probably other 

 oxygen compounds of phosphorus present. The liquid was 

 poured off, and the residue washed and put away until the 

 beginning of this year, when I found that a,s much more of 

 a similar liquid had collected in the bottle (specimen pro- 

 duced). Mr. Ford tells me that he has noticed the same 

 thing, and that Professor Smithy of Sydney, had also observed 

 it, and was in the habit of giving it for analysis to students 

 as a substance containing phosphorous acid. It is possible 

 that the formation of the fluid may be due to the residue of 

 ordinary phosphorus which the bisulphide of carbon used 

 in its preparation has failed to remove, or to instability of 

 the amorphous phosphorus causing a gradual return to its 

 original state under certain conditions. This can only be 

 ascertained by repeated experiments. I would invite the 

 attention of members to the subject, which is of considerable 

 practical importance now that the substance is so much used 

 by itself in the manufacture of safety matches. (The sample 

 was left for the use of any members who wished to examine 

 it.) H. M. A. 



