Phosphuretted Hydrogen

This compound may he formed, by the action of phosphnrets of alkaline metals on water, or hy the action of phosphorus on boiling alkaline solutions. Thus, phosphuret of cdcium, thrown into water, disengages the gas in question and it is also produced in large quantity by applying heat to a mixture of lime, water, and fragments of phosphonrs, in a retort nearly filled 

The gas, whether spontaneously inflammable or not, is colourless, and has a very offensive smell of putrid. fish. When it burns, it produces anhydrous phosphoric acid and water, forming thick white vapours and wnen bubblesi of the spontaneously inflammable gas take fire in still air, they form beautiful circular wreaths of vapour, which ascend, gradually widening, till they are dissipated in the air. 

The addition of ether, oil of turpentine, and many other substances, destroys the spontaneous inflammability but this property may be restored by adding to the gas a minute proportion of nitrous acid.—(Graham.) 

Phosphuretted hydrogen is neither acid nor alkaline but it seems to have alkaline tendencies, since it combines with hydri-odic acid, forming a neutral crystalline compound, isomorphous with hydriodate of ammonia. It also combines with several metallic chlorides, forming compounds analogous to those produced by ammonia with the same chlorides. Rose, who has described these compounds, points out a considerable analogy between phosphuretted hydrogen and ammonia. 

It has already been mentioned, that when hypophosphorous and phosphorous acids are heated, they are resolved into phos-phonc acid and phosphuretted hydrogen. This gas is consequently given off frequently towards the end of the evaporation of a solution of phosphorus in diluted nitric acid, which at first forms phosphorous acid, by the decomposition of which the gas is produced, causing a sudden combustion at the surface of me evaporating liquid. 

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Phosphorous hydride 4OSS PH3 Hy< rogen phosphide phosohlne phosphorous trlhydrlde phosphureted hydrogen. 

Take a glass tumbler three parts full of water, and drop into it two or three lumps of phosphuret of lime (phosphide of calcium), decomposition will take dace and phosphuretted hydrogen be produced, bubbles of which will rise to the surface and take fire immediately they burst through the surface or skin of the water, terminating in beautiful rings of smoke. 

Phosphuretted hydrogen or phosphine has an unpleasant odour, like putrid fish, is poisonous, and must not be inhaled. 

Phosphuretted Hydrogen. This is ft gaseou.s combination of phosphorus and hydrogen colorless, very fetid, sugbtly soluble in water, and bums witl white flame. It ha.s a specific gravity of l. S,... 

To Obtain Phosphuretted Hydrogen. The pure gas may be evolved by gen ay heating hydrated phosphorus acid in a small retort, and collecting it oy a pneumatic tron gb. ( See Xo 4031.)... 

In the separate, or hydrated state, P,0, 3HO, or P,0, H,. This acid is formed when phosphurets of the alkaline metals act on water, or when phosphorus is boiled with alkalies and water, phosphoric acid and phosphuretted hydrogen gas being formed at tne same time. The two acids combine with the base and if this be lime or baryta, the hypophosphite being soluble, is easily separated from the insoluble phosphate. From the hypophosphite of baryta sulphuric acid removes the baryta, and the hypophosphorous acid is left, dissolved in water. By gentle evaporation it may be obtained as a deliquescent crystalline mass, which is the hydrated acid. 

Phosphuret of calcium is obtained, in an impure state, by bringing phosphorus in contact with red-hot lime. A brown powder is formed, which is a mixture of phosphate of lime and phosphuret of calcium. When thrown into water it produces spontaneously inflammable phosphuretted hydrogen, along with hypophosphite and phosphate of lime. 

Liquid phosphuretted hydrogen is a very unstable bo[Pg.482]

Hypophosphorons acid when strongly heated dec[Pg.491]

That curious appearancs of light, called Trill-qf-the-wisp, after which these experiments are named, is supposed to 1 due to the escape from decomposing matter of trabbles of cert F es, through which phosphuretted hydrogen is diffused. 

The experiment with phosphuretted hydrogen and the jar of oxygen is one which should not be attempted by the inexperienced-... 

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