•^ I ^ Prapertits nud Habitiiihs cf 



part d in the pneumatic npparntus over mercury, cannot be reduced to the liquid (late bf 



any known means. Monge and Clouet alFirm, on the contrary, that by the application of 



cxrrrme cold, and a ftrong prcffuic exerted at the fame time on this gas, they rendered it 



liquid. 



Its fpecific gravity, according to Bergmatt, 150,00246, and 0,00251, according to La- 

 voifier ; which corrcfponds with 1.508 grain the inch cube, and 4 oz. 5 gros the foot cube 

 (French weights and meafurcs). 



//. Chim'ual Properties of the Sulphureous Acid, 

 ylflior. cfCahric.l Prleftlcy and BerthoUet affirm, that the fulphurcous acid gas, expofed 

 to an elevated temperature, depoHts a portion of fulphur, and becomes convened into ful- 

 phuric acid. Bergman relates the f.ime fad. This experiment, repeated in feveral dif- 

 ferent ways, did not afford us the fame refult. 



///. jiclion cfOx^'gene Gas. 

 ONE part of dry oxygene gas, and two parts of fulphurcous acid gas, prepared in the- 

 mercurial apparatus, and mixed together, fuffcrcd jio remarkable change during the courfe. 

 of feveral months. If a fmall quantity of water be added to the mixture, a fucccffive ab- 

 forption, after the diminution wliich is produced by the combination of a portion of the 

 fulphurcous acid, is perceived -, which proves the exlftence of a true combination betweeiv 

 thcfe two bodies. In faa, when the mixture is wafhed, after the expiration of feveral 

 months, the rofuluc of oxygene is found to be lefs than the original quantity. 



The atli-aaion of the water for the fulphuric acid is therefore favourable to the union of 

 the oxygene with the fulphurcous acid. We. were not able, however, to convert the wjiole 

 cf the fulphurcous acid into fulphuric acid, though in all our experiments oxygene gas re- 

 mained in the apparatus. 



The fulphurcous acid is immedi.itely converted into fulphuric acid, by paffing a mixture 

 of this g.is and of oxygene gas through an ignited tube. A very denfe white fume is 

 formed, which becomes condcnfed into the liquid form, in a bottle placed for that purpofe 

 at the other extremity of the tube. 



It feveral times happened, when by accident we had ufed the exaft proportions, that the 

 two gafes were entirely dellroyed, and not an atom of (elaftic) refidue was perceived. 



IF. The ABion of Water. 



WHEN the fulphurcous acid gas was pafled into water cooled by means of ice, the 

 combination was made with fuch rapidity that not a fingle bubble rofc to the furface of the 

 liquor until it was faturatcd. The ice is ipeedily melted -, which proves that much caloric 

 is difengaged. The w.itcr acquires at this temperature the Cjijth part of its weight. Its 

 fpccific gravity, compared with that of pure water, is as loio to looa 



Water thus faturatcd with the fulphurcous acid, and expofed to the temperature of 15 

 degrees above zero (Reaumur), immediately becomes filled with an infinity of fmall bubbles, 

 which fucccffively increafe, and rife to the furface. If » bottle full of this acid be 

 plunged in hot water, it boils with aftonilhing rapidity,->and lofcs by this operation part of 

 Its odoui and acidity. It cannct, however, be calily deprived of thefe qualities, even by 



2 boiling. 



