Phosphorus Dichloride, (PCl₂)n

By the action of a silent electric discharge upon a mixture of the gaseous trichloride and hydrogen a liquid was obtained which, after filtration to remove a yellow solid and distillation under reduced pressure, proved to have a composition corresponding to PCl₂. It decomposed quickly on heating into PCl₃ and a yellow solid, boiled with decomposition at about 180° C. and could be frozen to a solid which melted at -28° C.