ON METAlLLie PHOSPHURtTS. ST3' 



this ease occasions the formatiors of a pliosphite, and hy fhm 

 the attraclion of the phosphorus for the oxigcn is^ increased. 



These obscrratious su£;gest, that raetals may be classed by Classigcatiorm 

 their mode of comporting themselves with phosphuretted " 



alcohol ; and perhaps this system of diTisioii would be less 

 equivocal than any other. 



^ 10. If we write on a piece of paper with solutions of ^y^P'**^**^ 



gold, silver, mercury, and copper, and put the paper into 



a phial containing a bit of phosphorus, every letter will 



appear in a few minutes with the lustre of the original 



metal; and its brightness maybe afterward increased by 



rubbing it with a polished substance, as glass, Scc^ It is 



sufficient even to leave the phos.phorus a few minutes ia the '' 



phial, after which it may be taken out ; for the TapouF 



emanating from it, though invisible, retains the revivifying 



power, and gives the writing the metallic lustre. 



Alcohol impregnated with phosphorus affords an excellent Mode ©/freeing 

 - , . . . r i T_ • • . , water from 



means of depriving water oi the oxigen gas it commonly oxieen pas, 



contains. For this purpose we have only to let fall a few 



drops into the water, and expose it to the light of the sun; 



the phosphorus will be oxided, without passing to the state 



of an acidj and the water may then be filteredj to render it 



clear. 



Decomposition of Alcohol at no verjj high Temperature. 



% 11. When phosphorus and caustic fixed alkali are di- I^^'=*^"^Po^'^o^ 

 , ,. .^ , . . /. . ,.,..,., of alcohol at a 



gested or boiled in rectified spirit of wine, this liquid is de- jqw tempera- 



composed, and gives rise to the formation of water and of 'u'^^- 



phosphocarburetted hidrogen gas, which may be collected 



in the hydropneumatic apparatus, and in which Ihavefound 



the following properties. 



a. This gas is invisible, and difftises an alliaceous smell Pf«>perties of 



- , , , , .1 •,, 1 . 1 the sas obtam- 



reserablmg that of phosphuretted hidrogen gas; with which ed. 



however it cannot be confounded, as it does not take fire 



spontaneously, either in the open air, or when mixed with 



oxigen gas. I endeavoured to increase the proportion of 



phosphorus in it, by diminishing that of the alcohol and 



alkali ; and then placed the gas in a heat of 70° R. 



[189 5«*F.], yet it did not iiiilame on contact with the 



atmosphere. 



d. Whea 



