English

Noun

Canton's phosphorus ‎(uncountable)

1. (obsolete, inorganic chemistry) A poorly-characterized phosphorescent substance obtained by calcining oyster-shells and sulfur.
   • 1861 - John Henry Pepper - The Playbook of Metals: Including Personal Narratives of Visits to Coal, Lead, Copper, and Tin...

     Canton's phosphorus is made by calcining oyster-shells in the open fire for half an hour; after which, the whitest and largest pieces are selected, mixed with about one-third their weight of flowers of sulphur, pressed into a crucible with a closely-luted cover, and heated red hot for an hour.