368 Scientific Intelligence. 
tallize; the platinum salt forms a yellow — _—— 
Benzyl-phosphine i is formed according to the equa 
2€,H,Cl+2PH,1+Zn0 = 2P©,H,. ie +0H?, 
Dibenzyl-phosphine remains in the retort after distilling off the 
volatile products. When pure, it forms brilliant crystalline need- 
les, which are perfectly free from taste and smell, and insoluble in 
water. Dibenzyl-phosphine, P €.H,, does not unite with acids 
or even with platinic chloride: oxygen exerts no action upon it 
even at a » high temperature. Its formation is expressed by the 
equation 
£t. H ,Cl+PH,I+Zn0 = P(€,H,),H,1+ZnCl, +0H,. 
Besides these products, the mother-liquor of dibensy aa 
abe g a sticky ie insoluble in alcohol, whic to pos 
2. O : 
Pisepniven Whe ow current of methyl-phosphine 18 COM 
ducted into Faming iets acid, oxidation takes place, soon ; 
posing the lead salt by sulphydric acid. It is a white crystalline al 
mass resembling spermaceti, which is hy oscopic but not d 
quescent. It dissolves readily in in water; the solution reddens : 
mus paper, and has a oe nts taste. The sete | of the 
regia without the enter chan The acid melts at 108 C, 
and may be, in great measure at least, distilled without we 
Its constitution is expressed by the formula (€H,)H, 05: 
rm 
nd 
any of the metallic salts are insoluble or soluble with inal 
Hofmann describes the salts of silver, lead and Labi: ek rete 
: 0 
d which 
has the formula P(€H,),HO,. It is a white seer 4 
resembling paraffin, very soluble in water, alcohol and ether. 
crystals melt at 76°C., and volatilize at a higher tem 
without rm Oi The silver salt of ibis ey os 
mula P(CH,),Ag@.; it presents fine felted needies 
soluble s cae The barium and lead salts are unerystalig . 
and dry to clear masses like varnish. Hofmann also brie of 3 
scribes the two corresponding ethyl-acids, = first 4s he feet 
ame the second fluid even at —25°. The stitution rt 
s becomes intelligible if we regard th 
gthophelehe ts acid, in which methyl a omaie hydroxyl, 
