A  MarOTiR;  ml**' }  New  AUotropic  Modification  of  Phosphorus.  113 
ty  of  retaining  its  liquid  state  indefinitely.  Hence,  if  this  modifica- 
tion be  obtained  sufficiently  pure,  it  would  probably  exhibit  proper- 
ties strikingly  distinct  from  the  common  variety.  We  have  therefore 
instituted  a  series  of  experiments,  with  the  following  results. 
Good  phosphorus  was  taken  and  boiled  repeatedly  in  strong  solu- 
tion of  potassium  hydrate,  water  being  occasionally  added  to  replace 
that  lost  by  evaporation.  Care  was  taken  by  cautious  stirring  to  pre- 
vent the  phosphorus  from  being  carried  to  the  surface,  by  bubbles  of 
the  disengaged  gas.  When  the  operation  had  continued  for  five  or 
ten  minutes,  the  liquid  phosphorus  was  carefully  washed  by  replacing 
the  alkaline  solution  by  a  stream  of  running  water.  In  this  way,  all 
the  hypo-phosphites  were  removed  as  well  as  the  liquid  and  gaseous 
hydrides  of  phosphorus.  The  purified  liquid  phosphorus  is  now  in  a 
condition  which  we  believe  to  be  a  new  and  hitherto  unnoticed  allo- 
tropic  modification.    It  has  the  following  properties  : 
1st.  That  of  retaining  for  an  apparently  indefinite  time  its  liquid 
-condition,  even  when  exposed  to  temperatures  very  considerably  be- 
low the  melting  point  of  ordinary  phosphorus.  A  carefully  prepared 
specimen  has  been  kept  by  the  authors  for  upwards  of  four  months, 
and  is  still,  at  the  date  of  this  publication,  in  the  liquid  condition. 
The  specimen  in  question  is  preserved  beneath  a  water  surface  in  a 
small  test  tube.  Its  weight  is  about  one-eighth  of  an  ounce.  The  test 
tube  is  tied  by  a  string  and  suspended  in  a  position  where  it  is  free  from 
jars  or  sudden  shaking.  The  room  in  which  it  is  preserved  has  been  for 
weeks  without  a  fire,  the  temperature  having  often  reached  a  point 
probably  near  40°  F.,  and  yet  the  liquefaction  has  not  been  dis- 
turbed. There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  this  specimen  in  com- 
mon with  others  experimented  upon,  will  instantly  solidify  on  being 
touched. 
A  small  specimen  placed  in  a  test  tube  and  covered  by  a  water  sur- 
face, was  exposed  to  artificial  cold,  produced  by  the  rapid  evaporation 
of  ether.  It  solidified  at  about  38°  F.  Under  more  favorable  con- 
ditions, and  with  larger  masses,  it  is  probable  that  the  temperature 
could  be  reduced  still  lower. 
2d.  Another  respect  in  which  this  liquid  differs  from  the  ordinary 
variety  is  its  nori-oxidation  on  exposure  to  the  air. 
3d.  It  does  not  shine  in  the  dark.  This  follows  from  the  preceding 
property.    Several  specimens  showed  no  appreciable  light  when  ex- 
8 
