X.—Note on the formation of ozone during the slow oxidation of phosphorus

Abstract

WHEN preparing my lecture on ozone during t'he recent term, it seemed advisable to ascertain if this body is really produced during the slow oxidation of phosphorus in moist air, as some doubts have lately becn thrown on its formation by this process. The experiments extended to an unforeseen length, and i t may be well to give a short account of them, although it is necessary to apologise for bringing merely qualitative experiments under the notice of the Society. The active substance formed during the slow oxidation of phosphorus is probably either ozone or peroxide of hydrogen ; the direction the experiments took, therefore, was to decide which of these bodies was present in the air in which phosphorus was nndergoing oxidation.