S62 On [he Altsration which Sulphuric Acid 



which furnished the greatest quantity. The residue of the ether 

 may however be turned to advantage when it is not too much 

 carbonized. 



To obtain the acid contained in this salt a current of hydro- 

 sulphuric acid was employed. We may also decompose the salt 

 formed by the same acid with barytes by means of sulphuric acid. 



The new acid, or the sulphovinous acid, cannot be concentrated 

 on the fire ; for the liquid has scarcely begun to boil, when it is 

 already forced to contain a great quantity of sulphuric acid. 

 Placed under an empty receiver, by the side of a jar filled with 

 sulphuric acid, it concentrated, and at last appeared almost aa 

 oily as sulphuric acid. It had not yet suffered decomposition, 

 and its density was 1,319. Left for a longer time in the empty 

 reciever it became decomposed ; some sulphurous gas was dis- 

 engaged, and there remained in the vase concentrated sulphuric 

 acid, and some drops of ethereal oil. Sulphovinous acid of the 

 density of lj3 19 may remain in cold contact with nitric acid 

 without being decomposed ; but heated nitrous vapours are sent 

 forth, and sulphuric acid remains. Similar phaenomena occur 

 when the sulphovinates are treated with nitric acid. M. Vogel 

 has not remarked any difference between the acids extracted at 

 different periods before or after the separation of the ether, and 

 he does not adopt the three modifications of M. Sertnerner. 



Sulphovinous acid concentrated cannot be long preserved in its 

 state of purity ; after the lapse of about fifteen days it begins to 

 affect the salts of barytes. 



The sulphovinateof lime, obtained by saturating the residue of 

 the ether with chalk, is in the form of quadrilateral tablets, bi- 

 sected at right angles ; is unalterable when exposed to the air, 

 but when the salt has evaporated in a bodv, it attracts humidity. 

 The crystals have a taste slightly sv/eet, and are very soluble in 

 water and alcohol. In the empty receiver by the side of the 

 lime they lose their transparency, as also their water of crystalli- 

 zation. Thrown into a hot crucible they burn with flame, and 

 blacken ; but by continuing to heat the crucible, they become 

 white, and are nothing then but sulphate of lime. 



The sulphovinate of lime heated slowly in a crucible, bubbles 

 and becomes black ; an ethereal empyreumatic liquid passes into 

 the receiver, accompanied with a yellow oil which sinks in wa- 

 ter. This oil has something of the oleum vini; but it does not 

 possess its lightness. Sulphurous gas is at last expelled, and 

 there remains in the crucible sulphate of lime mixed with a little 

 charcoal. 



The sulphovinate of barytes is prepared by saturating the re- 

 sidue of the ether with carbonate of barytes. By a slow evapo- 

 ration of the liijiior crvitals very brilliant and possessed of trans- 

 parency 



