Homberg's phosphorus

English

Etymology

Named after its discoverer, the German chemist Wilhelm Homberg.

Noun

Homberg's phosphorus (uncountable)

1. (obsolete, inorganic chemistry) A poorly-characterized phosphorescent substance obtained by heating calcium chloride.
   • 1829, Thomas Curtis, The London encyclopaedia, or, Universal dictionary of science, art, literature, and practical:

     and Homberg found, that if it (muriate of lime) was urged by a violent heat till it condensed, on cooling, into a vitreous mass, it emitted a phosphoric light upon being struck by any hard body, in which state it was called Homberg's phosphorus