ON THE PHOSPHOEHS-BASES. 
■585 
requires 
Theory. 
Experiment. 
A 
1 equiv. of Tetrethylphosphonium 
147 
41-75 
I. 
II. III. 
IV. 
3 equivs. of Chlorine . * . . . 
106-5 
30-23 
30-14 
30-12 
1 equiv. of Platinum .... 
98-7 
352-2 
28-02 
100-00 
27-53 
27-95 
27-98 
Clilo7'ide of Tetrethylphosphonium and Ter chloride of Gold. 
The crystalline precipitate, obtained by mixing the two solutions, separates from 
boiling water in briUiant golden-yellow needles. 
0-317 grm. of the gold-salt, dried at 100° C., furnished, after ignition, 0-1275 grm. of 
gold. 
This determination leads to the formula 
E'l 
j 
C.eH,oPCl,AuCl3= 
^ lpCl,AuCl3, 
Ej 
by the following comparison : — 
Theory. 
A 
Experiment. 
1 equiv. of Tetrethylphosphonium 
. 147 
30-25 
4 equivs. of Chlorine . . . . . 
, 142 
29-22 
1 equiv. of Gold 
, 197 
40-53 
40-22 
1 equiv. of Gold-salt .... 
. 486 
100-00 
Action of Heat upon Oxide op Teteethylphosphonium. . 
The change which oxide of tetrethylammonium undergoes by the action of heat is 
well known ; this body splits into olefiant gas, water, and triethylamine. 
E, NO, HO=C, H,+2H0+E3 N. 
We expected an analogous transformation of oxide of tetrethylphosphonium, but experi- 
ment has proved that this body suffers a different decomposition. On submitting freshly- 
prepared oxide of tetrethylphosphonium to distillation, water only passes over in the 
first instance, but as soon as the solution has attained a certain state of concentration, 
it suddenly effervesces with evolution of an inflammable gas which may be collected 
over water. This gas contains carbon and hydrogen, but no phosphorus ; it may be 
left in contact with bromine-water without experiencing the slightest absorption. This 
experiment shows that the gas cannot contain any ethylene, and with almost the same 
certainty we may infer the absence in it of all the hydrocarbons of the formula C„ H„. 
The evolution of gas ceases long before the whole amount of the liquid contained in the 
retort has distilled over. On the contrary, it is observed that immediately after the 
