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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'Experiments on the mercurial phosphor [phosphorus] made at a meeting of th Royal Society at Gresham College November the 7th 1705' by Francis Hauksbee

Reference number: CLP/18i/91

Date: 1705

Description

Hauksbee describes two experiments: the first, to show that odd flashes of light upon the repetition of the experiment resembling a shower of fire; and the second, to show the abundance of particles of light are discovered by shaking quicksilver [mercury] in a glass in the open air.

Subject: Physics

Reference number
CLP/18i/91
Earliest possible date
1705
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Francis Hauksbee

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Citation

Francis Hauksbee, Paper, 'Experiments on the mercurial phosphor [phosphorus] made at a meeting of th Royal Society at Gresham College November the 7th 1705' by Francis Hauksbee, 1705, CLP/18i/91, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_18i_91/paper-experiments-on-the-mercurial-phosphor-phosphorus-made-at-a-meeting-of-th-royal-society-at-gresham-college-november-the-7th-1705-by-francis-hauksbee, accessed on 14 November 2025

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_18i_91/paper-experiments-on-the-mercurial-phosphor-phosphorus-made-at-a-meeting-of-th-royal-society-at-gresham-college-november-the-7th-1705-by-francis-hauksbee

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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