_Orthophosphoric acid_[13] is obtained by oxidising phosphorus with nitric acid until the phosphorus entirely passes into solution and the lower oxides of nitrogen cease to be evolved. The reaction takes place best with dilute nitric acid, and when aided by heat. The resultant solution is evaporated to a syrup. If a weighed quantity of phosphorus (dried in a current of dry carbonic anhydride) be taken, a crystalline mass of the acid can be obtained by evaporating the solution until it consists only of the quantity[14] of phosphoric acid corresponding with the amount of phosphorus taken (from 31 parts of P, 98 parts of solution). The acid fuses at +39°; specific gravity of the liquid 1·88. Phosphorus pentachloride, PCl_{5}, and oxychloride, POCl_{3} (see further on), give orthophosphoric acid and hydrochloric acid with water. The two other varieties of phosphoric acid, with which we shall presently become acquainted, give the same ortho-acid when under the influence of acids, with particular ease when boiled and more slowly in the cold. By itself orthophosphoric acid (either in solution or when dry) does not pass into the other varieties; it does not oxidise, and therefore presents the limiting and stable form. When heated to 300°, it loses water and passes into pyrophosphoric acid, 2H_{3}PO_{4} = H_{2}O + H_{4}P_{2}O_{7}, whilst at a red heat it loses twice as much water and is converted into metaphosphoric acid, H_{3}PO_{4} = H_{2}O + HPO_{3}. In aqueous solution orthophosphoric acid differs clearly from pyro- or metaphosphoric acids, because the solutions of these latter acids give different reactions: thus orthophosphoric acid does not precipitate albumin, does not give a precipitate with barium chloride, and forms a yellow precipitate of silver orthophosphate, Ag_{3}PO_{4}, with silver nitrate (in the presence of alkalis, but not otherwise); whilst a solution of pyrophosphoric acid, H_{4}P_{2}O_{7}, although it does not precipitate albumin or barium chloride, gives a white precipitate of silver pyrophosphate, Ag_{4}P_{2}O_{7}, with silver nitrate; and a solution of metaphosphoric acid, HPO_{3}, precipitates both albumin and barium chloride, and gives a white precipitate of silver metaphosphate, AgPO_{3}, with silver nitrate. These points of distinction were studied by Graham, and are exceedingly instructive. They show that the solution of a substance does not determine the maximum of chemical combination with water, that solutions may contain various degrees of combination with water, and that there is a clear difference between the water serving for solution and that entering into chemical combination. Graham's experiments also showed that the water whose removal or combination determines the conversion of ortho- into meta- and pyrophosphoric acids differs distinctly from water of crystallisation, for he obtained the salts of ortho-, meta-, and pyrophosphoric acids with water of crystallisation, and they differed in