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Basic Question Re: Phosphorus

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Ring-Bo-Ree:
Hi - I'm writing about an 18th century chemist and I have no chemistry background so I'm sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm trying to understand the following. A chemist is attempting to dye fabric silver. The fabric is dipped in a phosphorous solution. Once the ether evaporates, the fabric begins to fume. The chemist then applies silver water (nitrate of silver). This turns the fabric silver. What I don't get is why doesn't the fabric ignite once the ether has disappeared?

rolnor:
Maybe the fabric is close to ig ignite but not completely? Its really not simple to answer.

Ring-Bo-Ree:
Thanks anyway.

AWK:
This reaction has been studied a long time and it was found that metallic silver and silver phosphide are formed in it. Metallic silver deposits better on partially carbonized cellulosic fibers. The ammonia silver nitrate complex must be used for the reaction.

Ring-Bo-Ree:
OK, thanks. I'm clearly out of my depth here.

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