Phosphoric Acid
The aqueous solution is evaporated to dryness, the residue taken up with alcohol of 44° B., the fluid again evaporated, and the second residue dissolved in water. Upon adding acetate of lead to the solution, a white precipitate is produced if phosphoric acid be present. The precipitate is washed, suspended in water and a current of sulphuretted hydrogen passed through the mixture. If the fluid is then filtered, and the excess of sulphuretted hydrogen expelled from the filtrate by boiling, a liquid possessing the distinctive properties of a solution of phosphoric acid will be obtained. This should then be submitted to the following tests: Some pulverized charcoal is added to a portion of the solution, the mixture evaporated to dryness, and the residue obtained introduced into a Hessian crucible heated to redness: in presence of a considerable amount of the acid, free phosphorous is liberated and burns with a bright flame in the upper part of the crucible. In case this reaction fails to occur, other portions of the fluid are treated with a solution of a baryta salt, which causes a white precipitate, soluble in nitric acid; with an ammoniated solution of sulphate of magnesia, which throws down a crystalline white precipitate; and by boiling with molybdate of ammonia, acidulated with nitric acid, which produces a yellow precipitation, or at least a yellow coloration of the solution.