When pieces of phosphorus are dropped amongst silver heated to red in a crucible, the two unite and enter into fusion, according to Pelletier; when the metal is saturated with phosphorus the whole continues in a state of tranquil fusion; but being withdrawn from the fire, at the moment of congelation, a quantity of phosphorus becomes suddenly volatile and burns vividly, and the surface of the metal becomes uneven. The metal on being cooled, is found to have gained from 12 to 15 per cent.; and he apprehends that when fluid it contains 10 per cent. more, making in all 25 phosphorus to 100 silver. The phosphuret of silver is white and crystalline, brittle under the hammer, but capable of being cut with a knife. By a strong heat the phosphorus is dissipated and leaves the silver pure. Both Raymond and Thomson observe that phosphuretted hydrogen water precipitates silver from its solutions of a black colour. I find that a solution of sulphate of silver containing one grain of the metal, requires water containing 90 grain measures of phosphuretted hydrogen to saturate it; the whole of the silver falls readily and leaves nothing but the acid in the water. Now the weight of 90 measures of this gas is nearly ⅑ of a grain; hence the proportions of metal and phosphorus are as 10 to 1, which shows that they combine atom to atom, or 90 silver to 9⅓ phosphorus. This is somewhat less of phosphorus than is determined above by Pelletier. 10. _Phosphuret of mercury._ M. Pelletier made several attempts to combine phosphorus and mercury. He seems to have succeeded best, by exposing mercury in an extreme state of division, to phosphorus under water in a moderate heat. The phosphuret is a black compound, which is resolved again into its elements by distillation. When nitrate of mercury is treated with phosphuretted hydrogen water, a copious dark brown or black precipitate is instantly formed, as Raymond and Thomson have observed. This black precipitate, Raymond adds, soon becomes white and crystalline in passing from phosphuret to phosphate, by attracting oxygen. I have found the black powder when dried in a moderate heat to abound in small shining globules, which have all the appearance of revived mercury. However this may be, I find that a certain weight of mercurial salt requires a certain portion of gas to saturate it, so as that the whole mercury shall be precipitated. One grain of mercury requires rather more than ¹/₁₈ of its weight or 50 grain measures of the gas for its saturation. This proves the combination to be the most simple, or atom to atom; that is, 167 mercury take 9⅓ phosphorus; or 100 mercury take 5½ phosphorus nearly. 11. _Phosphuret of palladium._ When nitrate of palladium is dropped into phosphuretted hydrogen water, a copious black flocculent precipitate is immediately formed, which doubtless consists of palladium and phosphorus.