208 PROFESSOR LETTS AND N. COLLIE ON THE 
Brominated Compound.—This is a very characteristic substance, and its 
production, with all of the specimens of the supposed oxide, we considered to 
be a strong proof of their identity. . 
It is formed by dissolving the phosphine ais in Siarel acetic acid (boiling), 
and adding bromine in excess. No visible reaction occurs, except that the 
bromine is at first decolorised. On cooling, the compound is precipitated as a 
granular crystalline powder of bright yellow colour. Sometimes needles are 
observed ; but these are found, when examined under the microscope, to con- 
sist of cubical or rhombohedral crystals united ; the crystalline powder consist- 
ing of the same forms isolated. 
For analysis, the compound was simply dried 72 vacuo for some time, and 
was not recrystallised. 
Carbon and Hydrogen. * 
0:4746 orm. gave 0'9915 CO, = 0:2704C = 56:9 per cent. 
O4746''., ,, 02117 0: ="0'02330 49 ,, 
Phosphorus. + , ; 
06777 required 16:1 cc. uranium solution =0-0368 P = 5:2 per cent. 
Bromine. } 
0:1685 required 6:0 ce. silver solution= 0°048 Br=28-4 per cent. 
0:2128 RO TD O MCE ass ; = 0060 Br=23:3 ,, 
0:3498 plerlieai tema res; fim a D009 BuiPaisiaim 5 
These numbers agree closely with the rather curious formula, 
4 {(C,H,),POBr,} ,(C,H,),PO, or 5 {(C,H,),PO}, 4Br, , 
but with no other that appeared probable. 
Obtained. Calculated. © 
1. Il. Ul. 
Carbon, : ; 56°9 — — i : 563 
Hydrogen, . 4 4:9 — — ; ; 4-7 
Phosphorus, : 52 — — i : 69 
Bromine, . b 28-4 28:3 ~~ 283 ; , 28°5 
The bromine compound when treated with acetic acid loses bromine. It 
cannot, therefore, be readily recrystallised. Heated by itself it fuses, but at no 
definite temperature, to a deep yellow liquid. Hydrobromic acid is then given 
off, and later bromide of benzyl (2) distills. Heated with alcohol it dissolves, 
and the solution (at first yellow) gradually becomes colourless, and the odour of 
bromide of benzyl is apparent ; but a considerable quantity of bromine may be 
precipitated by nitrate of silver from the alcoholic solution. When boiled with 
water it decomposes, and bromine is evolved. 
* By combustion with oxide of copper and chromate of lead. 
+ Fused in a silver dish with caustic potash and nitrate of potash, and subsequently titrated with 
uranium solution. 
{ Fused in a silver dish with caustic potash, and subsequently titrated by VorHarpt’s method, 
