Jnq^uify into the Laws of Affinitp jy„ 



The matter which produced the difcolouratlon of the filver proved to be fulphurated 

 htdrogen, and it is worthy of remark, that this compound is not formed by the albumen 

 of eggs without the addition of water ; the water contained in the albumen itfelf feeming 

 to be infufficient to give the hidrogen required^ or its combination with this fubftancc 

 not admitting of decompofition *. 



The fmell of fulphurated hidrogen appears much ftronger in the water where albumen 

 has been boiled, if it have had filver immerfed in it : perhaps the filver gives the 

 predifpofing affinities. That fo large a quantity of fulphur fliould be contained in the 

 rudimental materials of a bird, is a curious faft : but as fulphur is a fubftance ftill imper- 

 feftly known, it is difficult to fay whence it is derived, and for what purpofes it is em- 

 ployed. 



The ferum of the human blood contains fulphur, which in fome experiments made for 

 me by Mr. Fred. Accum yielded fulphurated hidrogen abundantly. 



The air contained in the folliculus aeris, appears from the few experiments which I have 

 made to be analogous to atmofpheric air. 



I am, dear SIR, 



Your much obliged, &c. &c. 



%obo Square, July 4, i80l. A. CARLISLE. 



VI. 



Inquiries relative to the Laws of Affinity. By Cit. Berthollet. f 



f Continued from page 158.^ 



Of the Metallic Solutions and Precipitates. 



.1 



. N the two preceding Memoirs, I have principally confidercd thofe fubftances which 

 are fimple, and of which the compofition is not variable } but it is known that the metallic 

 oxides have different properties, according to the ftate of the oxidation j which muft ne- 

 celTarily afFeft their chemical a£l:ion. 



The objeiSt of this memoir is to examine, what may be the influence of the degree of 

 oxidation of the metals in their chemical aftion, and in general to compare this aflion 

 with that of other fubflances, independantly of the properties with which I have been oc- 

 cupied {Inquiries, Art. XIII.) 



• Perhaps the difcolouring of filver fpoons in eating boiled eggs, may arife from the water of the faliva 

 being repeatedly brought into coBtaft with the heated albumen, or frprn the water in whicli the eggs had 

 been boiled having permeated the fliell. 



t Annales de Ghimie, torn. XXXVIII. p. 113. 



Aaa The 



