CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 311 



the oil loses its peculiar yellow color, passing through a greenish into a 

 brownish tint, whilst the oxide disappears, being dissolved in the oil. In 

 this state of " solution," as it is called, the oil has already had given to it, 

 by this simple, rapid, and inexpensive operation, a very considerable amount 

 of drying power, and is fit in this state, to be applied to a multitude of 

 purposes. 



OX A NEW SULPHIDE OF CARBON (CS) 



As yet only one sulphide of carbon has been known to exist, namely, CS 2 , 

 corresponding to carbonic acid CO 2 . A protosulphide CS corresponding to 

 carbonic oxide CO has never been obtained. At a recent meeting of the 

 French Academy, M. Baudriment. announced its discovery, and gave the fol- 

 lowing brief account of its preparation and properties : 



Protosulphide of carbon may be obtained by the following processes : 1st, 

 By decomposing the vapor of ordinary bisulphide of carbon with spongy 

 platinum, or with pumicestonc, heated to redness ; under these circumstances, 

 the bisulphide is decomposed, an abundant deposit of sulphur takes place, 

 which often chokes up the tube, and a gaseous body is formed, which is the 

 protosulphide of carbon CS. This well defined reaction is sufficiently ex- 

 plicit. 2d, It is obtained simultaneously with the bisulphide when that body 

 is prepared by the ordinary method. 3d, By decomposing the vapor of CS 2 

 at a red heat with pure lampblack or wood charcoal, but especially with frag- 

 ments of animal charcoal. 4th, By decomposing the vapor of the bisul- 

 phide with hydrogen at a red heat. 5th, By calcining sulphide of antimony 

 with an excess of charcoal. 6th, By the reaction of carbonic oxide upon 

 sulphuretted hydrogen at a i-ed heat. 



CO-f-HS=HO-fCS. 



The first process yields the gas in a state of purity ; but when obtained by 

 the other methods, it is contaminated with sulphide of hydrogen or carbonic 

 oxide. It may, however, be purified from those by being rapidly passed 

 through a solution of acetate of lead, chloride of copper dissolved in hydro- 

 chloric acid, and then drying the gas collected over mercury. 



This body is gaseous, colorless, and possesses on odor, reminding one of 

 ordinary sulphide of carbon, but not disagreeable, and strongly ethereal. 

 Respired in any large quantity, it appears to be powerfully anaesthetic. It 

 burns with a bright blue flame, producing carbonic acid and sulphurous 

 acid, with a little sulphur. Its density is a little greater than carbonic acid. 

 It resists the cold-produced mixture of ice and salt. "Water dissolves about 

 its own volume of it, but the solution rapidly decomposes into sulphuretted 

 hydrogen and carbonic oxide. It is not more soluble in alcohol or ether. 



At a red heat it is feebly decomposed 1st, by a spongy platinum; 2d, 

 by the vapor of water into 11 S and CO ; 3d, very readily by hydrogen into 

 HS and CH; 4th, by copper into graphitoid carbon and sulphide of cop- 

 per ; and, finally, by exposure to the sun with an equal volume of chlorine, 

 a reaction takes place, a partial condensation and formation of compounds, 



.. ... 



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