Yellow-phosphorus meaning

It is decomposed by water, and with a solution of yellow phosphorus in carbon bisulphide it gives a red powder of composition PBI 2, which sublimes in vacuo at 210° C. to red crystals, and when heated in a current of hydrogen loses its iodine and leaves a residue of boron phosphide PB.

Orthophosphoric acid, H3P04, a tribasic acid, is obtained by boiling a solution of the pentoxide in water; by oxidizing, red phosphorus with nitric acid, or yellow phosphorus under the surface of water by bromine or iodine; and also by decomposing a mineral phosphate with sulphuric acid.

The Curies showed that oxygen was convertible into ozone, and Sudborough that yellow phosphorus gave the red modification when submitted to their influence.

More important is the so-called " red phosphorus," which is produced by heating yellow phosphorus to about 230 for 24 hours in an inert atmosphere, or in closed vessels to 300°, when the change is effected in a few minutes.

The process consists in heating yellow phosphorus in iron pots provided with air-tight lids, which,.