On the Re-action of Sulphuret of Carbon, SfC. 149 



duced during the decomposition. 4. That all these sulphates 

 may be used in the preparation of the common or the fuming 

 sulphuric acid by means of the process described. — Jour, de 

 Phar. X. 363. 



II. On the Re-action of Sulphuret of Carbon and Ammonia ; on the 

 Combinations which residt, and particidarly a New Class ofSulpho- 

 cyanurets. By M. W. C. Zeise*. 



When sulphuret of carbon is added to alcohol containing am- 

 monia in solution, the effects are very different to those produced 

 by the use of potash or soda : no hydroxanthate is obtained, but at 

 least two other salts are produced ; the one containing a new acid, 

 which may be considered as formed of sulphocyanic acid and sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen ; the other as containing a double sulphuret 

 of hydrogen and carbon. The ammonia, therefore, as well as the 

 sulphuret of carbon is decomposed during the action. 



Prcliminarii Observations on the Mutual Action of these two 

 Bodies. — 1. .Sulphuret of carbon dissolves abundantly in alcoholic 

 solution of ammoniacal gas, producing a liquor which at first 

 resembles that produced when potash is used as the alcali ; but 

 evidently differing in the impossibility of rendering the solution 

 neutral, however much of the sulphuret is used, and in the circum- 

 stance that after a short time the odour of sulphuretted hydrogen 

 is produced. 



2. If from 15 to 17 measures of sulphuret of carbon, 45 of alco- 

 hol, and 100 of alcohol saturated with ammoniacal gas, are put into 

 a wide-mouthed flask of such a size as nearly to fill it, the flask 

 well closed with a glass stopper, and left at a temperature of from 

 54° to 57° Fahr., in about 10 minutes the liquor will become 

 yellow, and in 20, brown. Shortly a multitude of plumose crystals 

 will form at the bottom, and a substance of the same kind will 

 adhere to the stopper and uncovered parts of the flask. The 

 quantity will increase for above an hour, after which a new crys- 

 tallization will commence, proceeding much slower ; the crystals 

 will group more distinctly, frequently in stars ; they are of a differ- 

 ent colour to the first crystals, more brilliant, more perfect in 

 form, and prismatic. After 30 or 40 hours this formation will 

 cease, the crystals will sometimes be half an inch in length, and 

 the quantity considerable ; at the same time the first crystals will 

 have decreased in quantity, and perhaps even have disappeared 

 entirely. The first salt is a combination of the double sulphuret of 

 carbon and hydrogen with ammonia, and may be distinguished as 

 the reddening salt : the second was distinguished as a hydrosul- 

 phuretled hydroiulphocyanale of ammonia. 



♦ Sec Quarterly Journal, XIV. 133. XV. 30 1. 



