it $9 Mr. Km wan*s Experiments 
The decompofitions effected by fixed and volatile livers of 
fulphur obvioufly proceed in moil: cafes from a double affinity. 
S E C T I O N VIII. 
Of Phofphoric Hepatic Ah\ 
As phofphorus, in refpeCt to its conftituent parts, bears a 
flrong refemblance to fulphur, I was naturally led to examine 
its phenomena when placed in the fame circumftances ; I 
therefore gently heated about io or 12 grains of phofphorus, 
mixed with about half an ounce of cauftic fixed alkaline folution, 
in a very fmall phial, furnifhed with a bent tube, and received 
the air over mercury. Upon the firft application of heat two 
fmall explofions took place, attended with a yellow flame and 
white fmoke, which penetrated through the mercury into the 
receiver; thefe were followed by an equable production of air. 
Atlaft the phofphorus began to fwell and froth, and fearing the 
rupture of the phial, I flopped the tube to prevent the accefs 
of atmofpheric air, and removed the phial to a water tub, 
intending to throw it in ; but in the mean while the phial 
burfl with a loud explofion, by reafon of an obftruCtion in the 
tube, and a fierce flame immediately iflfued from it. However 
I obtained about 8 cubic inches of air. 
This air was diminifhed very flightly, by agitation with an 
equal bulk of water, and then became cloudy like white fmoke* 
but foon after recovered its tranfparency. Upon turning up 
the mouth of the tube to examine the water, the unabforbed 
air inftantly took fire, and burned with a yellow flame without 
exploding, leaving a reddifh depofit on the fides of the tube. 
Water 
