Expeiiments upon the liquid Sulphur of Lampadins, 31 



the water, and falling to the bottom of the liquor whe^i 

 they have acquired a certain volume. If we pass too great 

 a'quanlity of sulpliuFj a portion joins this oil and gives it 

 more colour and density ; the other is condensed in the first 

 glass tube, and is fixed the instant it comes in contact with 

 the water. If the first flask is so near the furnace as to make 

 the temperature exceed 20 or 25 degrees of Reaumur, 

 the liquid sulphur boils, is volatilized, and passes into the 

 second flask, when the cold water completely condenses it. 

 We remark, that when we heat the charcoal alone, there 

 is continually liberated carbonated hydrogen gas mixed 

 with carbonic acid ; that as soon as the sulphur passes, sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen gas is disengaged in very great quantities, 

 and that as soon as the liquid sulphur begins to be formed, 

 little or no gas is liberated. 



Physical properties. — The liquid sulphur obtained in the 

 first operation is of a citron yellow colour, which seems to 

 be merely accidental, and owing to a superabundant portion 

 of sulphur, siuce by a new distillation we obtain it perfectly 

 colourless, very transparent, and of great fluidity ; there 

 remains in the vessel where it has been rectified a portion 

 of sulphur, which unites in a mass or in small regular cry- 

 stals if the distillation has not been carried too far. The 

 density of liquid sulphur is considerably more than that of 

 distilled water ; it has a very strong, fetid, sulphurous, pun- 

 gent, and garlic-like smell. It has an extremely sharp, 

 pungent, and very cold taste. The astonisbing facility with 

 which this fluid decomposes the light announces its great 

 combustibility. 



Chemical properties. — When exposed to the air in anv 

 vessel, it vaporizes very speedily, and without leaving any 

 residue, Wh^n it is very pure : if we bring it within a few 

 inches of an ignited body it takes fire very rapidly, yields a 

 white flame, which latterly becomes purple; it difl^uses a 

 suffocating smell of sulphurous acid, and deposits upon the 

 sides of surrounding bodies a yellow dust in every respect 

 resembling sulphur. 



The water in which the liquid sulphur has been received 

 assumes a milky appearance in a few hours; and the vessels 



are 



