EXPLOSION  OF  HYPOPHOSPHITE  OP  SODA. 
87 
saccharic  acid?  (Ann.  d.  Ph.  xxxvi.  1.)  The  artificial  formation 
of  tartaric  acid  has  therefore  been  doubtful  until  Liebig's  latest 
discovery. — Buchners  JSf.  Repertorium,  viii.  317,  318. 
J.  M.  M. 
ON  THE  EXPLOSION  OF  HYPOPHOSPHITE  OF  SODA. 
By  Trommsdorff. 
Under  the  heading  of  "  Caution,"  Dr.  L.  C.  Marquart  (Arch, 
d.  Ph.  lxxxv.  284,)  describes  a  violent  explosion  of  the  above 
salt,  while  its  solution  was  being  evaporated  in  a  porcelain 
capsule,  placed  in  a  heated  sand-bath,  for  which  reason  too  high 
a  heat  was  assigned  as  the  cause  of  explosion.  It  was,  therefore, 
thought  necessary  to  avoid  evaporating  such  a  solution,  either 
over  the  fire  or  in  a  sand-bath,  but  to  employ  altogether  a  water- 
bath  for  its  evaporation.  This  operation  has  been  carried  on 
very  frequently,  in  my  laboratory,  without  the  occurrence  of  the 
least  accident.  But  last  spring,  I  experienced,  by  a  painful  ac- 
cident, that  even  the  low  temperature  of  boiling  water  is  no 
safeguard  against  explosions  of  this  salt. 
The  neutral  solution  of  hypophosphite  of  soda  was  evaporated 
in  small  portions  in  a  porcelain  dish,  heated  by  a  simple  water- 
bath,  the  concentrated  liquid  being  constantly  stirred  with  a 
glass  rod  or  a  porcelain  spatula.  The  last  portion  had  become 
nearly  dry,  when  a  violent  explosion  took  place,  breaking  all 
the  windows  of  the  laboratory,  and  seriously  lacerating  the  face 
of  the  attending  workman.  Being  near  at  hand,  and  supposing 
the  explosion  to  have  been  caused  by  the  neglect  of  the  water- 
bath,  I  hurried  to  the  spot,  but  found  the  bath  filled  with  boiling 
water,  and  was  unable  to  discover  the  least  suspicious  circum- 
stance from  which  the  cause  of  the  accident  might  have  been 
explained. 
The  preparation  which  I  am  using  now,  is  of  French  manu- 
facture, and  has  a  strong  alkaline  reaction.  Should  it,  in  this 
state,  be  less  subject  to  explosions?  It  would  be  highly  interesting 
to  hear  of  the  experience  of  the  French  and  other  chemists, 
with  regard  to  this  new  medicinal  salt,  which  they  are  preparing 
in  enormous  quantities. 
Arehiv  d.  Pharm.  1859,  Sept.  388.  J.  M.  M. 
