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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Unpublished paper, 'On the phosphates' by John Dalton

Reference number: AP/23/5

Date: April 1839

Description

Dalton explains how he published a table on the absorption of gases by water and other liquids in 1803. He goes on to present a review of literature on the phosphates. He presents the formula for 'simple phosphate of soda' and shares details of experiments made using this substance. He then describes bisphosphate of soda and subphosphate of soda. Followed by a supplement in which Dalton states that he has discovered a new law of the combinations of water with salts.

Subject: Analytical chemistry

Received 18 April 1839 by Samuel Hunter Christie.

Reference number
AP/23/5
Earliest possible date
April 1839
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
13 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Dalton

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Citation

John Dalton, Unpublished paper, 'On the phosphates' by John Dalton, April 1839, AP/23/5, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_23_5/unpublished-paper-on-the-phosphates-by-john-dalton, accessed on 19 January 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_23_5/unpublished-paper-on-the-phosphates-by-john-dalton

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    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    Dates: 1768 - 1989

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