XXVII.—On chlorophosphuret of nitrogen, and its products of decomposition

The general result was to confirm the formula P3N,C15 assigned to chlorophosphuret of nitrogen by its discoverers, T;lrohler and Liebig, to describe the substance more fully, and especially t o show that, under the influence of aqueous ether, alkalies, and even of water] it was capable of' giving rise to two new acids, named respectively deutazophosphork an6 azophosphoric acids.The first was believed to be produced by the simple decomposition : Y3N,CI, + 8HO* = 3HO.P3N,O, + 5HC1; but neither the acid nor its salts could he obtained in a state to give trustworthy analyses.The second-azophosphoric acid-is produced from a solution of a deutazophosphate by heating it with different metallic salts, when a precipitate containing the new acid falls.The most remarkable of these is a ferric salt, insoluble in dilute acids, and soluble in ammonia; but several others were prepared, described, and analysed, and the common formula found for them was 3hf0.P2N0,, conbined with from two to five equivalents of water.L a u r e n t , in the Compt es Rendus for Sept. 9,1850, considers that chlorophosphuret of iiitrogen must have the fcmiula PNCl,, and the two acids derived from it must be respectively P2N,E16Q5 aiid P2NH5Q6, accordiiig to the following schemes of deconiposition :But these formulae were s00ii challenged.PC1, + KH, = YNC1, + 3HC1 2(PhTC1,) + 5H,U = P2N1H6-Q5 + 4HCI P2N2H6Q, + H,0 = P2NH,Q6 + NH,; and he views these acids as ainidated acids, giving them correspond-* I n this paper we hare been obliged to employ both tbe systems of notation, therefore when the equivalent of oxygen is 16, have dietinguished'it bv the bar frequently uccd for that purpose.