of Phosphorus and Sulphur , &c, 407 
suffering the water to become cool after each addition of the 
liquor, and then precipitating the solution by solution of nitrate 
of silver, I have ascertained the quantity of chlorine and of 
phosphorus it contains. 13.6 grains, treated in this way, af- 
forded 43 grains of horn silver. 
It is evident from this analysis, compared with the result of 
the synthetical experiments on the sublimate, that the quantity 
of phosphorus being the same, the sublimate contains double 
as much chlorine as the liquor. 
When phosphorus is heated in the liquor, a portion is dis- 
solved, and it then when exposed to the atmosphere leaves a 
film of phosphorus, which when the liquor is thrown on paper 
usually inflames : a substance of this kind was first procured 
by MM. Gay Lussac and Thenard, by distilling phophorus 
and calomel together; and it may be produced in the experi- 
ment with corrosive sublimate, if sufficient heat be used to 
sublime the phosphorus, or if there be not an excess of the 
corrosive sublimate. I have made no experiments in order to 
ascertain the quantity of phosphorus the liquor will dissolve. 
When the white sublimate is made to act upon water, it 
dissolves in it producing much heat. The solution evapo- 
rated affords a thick liquid, which is a solution of pure phos- 
phoric acid, or a hydrat of phosphoric acid. 
When the liquor is treated with water in the same way, it 
furnishes likewise a thick fluid of the consistence of syrup, 
which crystallizes slowly by cooling, and forms transparent 
parallelopipedons. 
This substance has very singular properties: when it is 
heated pretty strongly in the air, it takes fire and burns bril- 
liantly, emitting at the same time globules of gas, that inflame 
3 G 2 
