4^2 Mr. Davy’s new analytical Researches 
II. Further Inquiries respecting Sulphur and Phosphorus . 
I have stated, in the last Bakerian Lecture, that hydrogene 
is produced from sulphur and phosphorus in such quantities, 
by Voltaic electricity, that it cannot well be considered as an 
accidental ingredient in these bodies. I have likewise stated, 
that when potassium is made to act upon them, the sulphurets 
and phosphurets evolve less hydrogene in the form of com- 
pound inflammable gas by the action of an acid, than the same 
quantity of potassium in an uncombined state, and from this 
circumstance, I have ventured to infer, that they may contain 
oxygene. 
On the idea, that sulphur and phosphorus are deprived of 
some of their oxygene by potassium, it would follow, that 
when the compounds formed in this experiment are decom- 
posed, these substances ought to be found in a new state ; 
deoxygenated, as far as is compatible with their existence in 
contact with water. 
With the view of examining the nature of the substances, 
separated by the action of muriatic acid upon the sulphurets 
and phosphurets of potassium, I combined a few grains of 
sulphur and phosphorus, with one fourth of their weight of 
potassium, and exposed the compounds to the action of a 
strong solution of muriatic acid. As in the former cases, less 
inflammable gas was produced than would have been afforded 
by equal quantities of the uncombined potassium, and con- 
siderable quantities of solid matter separated from both 
compounds, which after being washed were collected in a 
filter. 
The substance which separated from the sulphuret, was of 
