On definite Proportions. 173 
which is formed during the distillation of turf, that 100 
cubic inches of carbureted hydrogen gas detonate com- 
pletely with 200 of oxygen, and afford 100 cubic inches of 
carbonic acid. Consequently they must contain 13°44 
grains of carbon, and hydrogen enough to saturate 33°82 
grains (= 100 cubic inches) of oxvgen, that is, (XX) 4°505 
grains. Hence we obtain for carbureted hydrogen - 
Carbon ....... 74°896 2987335 
Hydrogen ....,..25°104 100:000 
In the same place we are informed hy Thomson, that 
100 cubic inches of olefiant gas require for their combustion 
300 of oxygen gas, and afford 200 of carbonic acid gas. 
Consequently 100 parts of hydrogen are here combined 
with a double proportion of carbon, and this gas consists 
of Carbon....... 100°0000 596°67 
Hydrogen .... 16°7597 100°00 
It appears therefore that 100 parts of carbon take up at 
a minimum 16°76 of hydrogen, and 125'818 of oxygen. 
Now we learn from the analysis uf sulphureted hydrogen, 
that 100 parts of sulphur combine with 6°66 of hydrogen, 
and 16°7597 : 125°818=6°66: 49:997. Hence sulphur in 
its lowest degree of oxidation ought to contain exactly 50 
of oxygen to 100 of sulphur: and this is just half as much 
oxygen, as, according to my investigations, forms the sul- 
hurous acid with 100 parts of sulphur: for I have found 
(XIII) that the sulphuric acid consists very nearly of 40 
parts of sulphur and 60 oxygen, and the sulphurous of 
equal parts of these substances. With such an oxide of 
sulphur we are not acquainted, unless it exists in the sul- 
phureted muriatic acid discovered by Thomson. I have 
carefully considered the experiments which Thomson, 
Berthollet, and Bucholz have performed with this substance, 
and they seem to me to show uniformly no traces either of 
oxymuriatic acid, or of sulphurous acid. It can therefore 
only be supposed, that all the sulphur is united with oxy- 
en, and that this new body is consequently nothing else 
ut a combination of the muriatic acid with an oxide of 
sulphur, If we mix it with water, the muriatic acid follows 
a stronger affinity, and the oxide of sulphur, being detached 
from it, 1s separated into sulphur and sulphurous acid, as 
the protoxide of copper is separated by the action of some 
of the acids. 
Berthollet the younger combined with 30 grammes of 
sulphur as much oxymuriatic acid gas as they were able to 
condense, and obtained 91-15 gr. of this combination. 
Consequently 100 parts of sulphur had taken up 204 of 
oxymuriatic 
