rgg ACTION OF OXlr ' P'ATIC ACID GAS ON ALKALIS. 



Properties of The properties exhibited by the gas mentioned above 

 she gas. were: J. It was neither acid nor alkaline. 2. It had a 



slight alliaceous smell. 3. It took fire at the approach of 

 the white flame of a taper, and formed by this combustion 

 a little phosphoric acid and oxide of phosphorus. 4. It 

 detonated loudly, when mixed with oxigen gas, and touched 

 by a substance hi the state of ignition. 5. It did not take 

 fire on coming into contact with the atmosphere, with oxi- 

 gen gas, or with nitrous gas. 6. It was a little soluble in 

 water; and in this solution nitrate of silver occasioned a 

 blackish precipitate. 7. It inflamed rapidly when mixed 

 with oxi muriatic acid gas, and afterward deposited a little 

 oxide of phosphorus on the sides of the jar. 

 Easy method Tim elastic fluid may be procured in a simple aud easy 

 Ik^f™^ wa } T - It IS sufficient to put a little phosphorus, cut into 

 small pieces and very dry, into a common phial ; to strew 

 over it perfectly dry caustic potash ; and to adapt to it a 

 curved tube opening under a jar filled with mercury. On 

 heating the phial gently white vapours will form .without 

 inflammation, and the gas will be evolved. The tempera- 

 ture is to be raised gradually, till no more bubbles pass". 

 Residuum. There will remain in the phial a black substance, slightly 



alkaline, containing phosphate of potash. 

 Difference of There is a very striking difference when a little water is; 



the results if af ] c l ec { to the mixture. As long as anv moisture is present, 



water be pre- , , . , , . , ' - , . , . „ 



sent, we obtain phosphuretled hidrogen gas, which inflames on 



the contact of airr but as soon as the matter is dry, if the 

 action of the fire be continued, the gas evolved no longer in- 

 flames by the contact of air, and has all the properties of 

 that -djove mentioned. 



This difference in the results no doubt deserves examina- 

 tion, and perhaps may be explained without any hypothe- 

 sis. The same may be said of the following experiment, 

 which may serve to elucidate the phenomena above de- 

 scribed. 

 Oximuriatic Two drachms of pure potash were introduced into a por- 



wid gas passed celafu tube passing through a reverberatery furnace, 

 afa white heat Through this tube, brought to a white heat, was transmit- 

 ted oximuriatic acid gas, expelled from a matrass into which 

 the proper ingredients had been put. An intermediate 



phial, 



