experiences in acting upon Alcohol. 36$ 



parency are obtained; they are foursided and unalterable by the 

 air. Although very soluble in water, the sulphovinate of barytes 

 is scarcely so in alcohol. Washed with very concentrated alcohol, 

 in order to see whether the oil adhered mechanically to its sur- 

 face, it yielded on distillation the same products as if it had not 

 been washed ; viz. an ethereal empyreumatic liquid and a heavy 

 yellow oil. From this result we may conclude, that the oil is 

 not mixed mechanically with the salt, but that it is in a true state 

 of combination. 



The sulphovinate of lead may be obtained like the two pre- 

 ceding salts, by saturating the residue of ether with carbonate of 

 lead. By evaporation there remains a saline mass, which is so 

 attractive of humidity that in some hours it fleliquesces entirelv. 

 The salt dried, requires scarcely the half of its weight of water to 

 dissolve it; it is also very soluble in alcohol. Heated in a cru- 

 cible, it yields a heavy oil, and the residue consists of sulphate 

 of lead mixed with a little charcoal. 



The sulphovinate of potash was prepared by neutralizing the 

 carbonate of potash by pure acid. It makes" its appearance in 

 pearly scales similar to those of boracic acid ; it is greasy to the 

 touch like talc; its taste is sweetish; it dissolves easily in water, 

 and fuses with a mild heat. 



The sulphovinate of soda presents itself in brilliant crystals, 

 the form of which is not very regular and which effloresce slightly 

 when exposed to the air. 



The sulphovinate of copper is prepared bv dissolving carbo- 

 nate of copper in sulphovinous acid. The solution gives by eva- 

 poration blue crystals in large pieces, very soluble in water and 

 in alcohol ; the salt passes into the state of sulphate when heated 

 to some degrees above the temperature of boiling water. 



Sulphovinous acid dissolves iron with a disengagement of hy- 

 drogenous gas. The solution is colourless, of a sweetish taste, 

 and yields no precipitate with salts of barytes. By spontaneous 

 evaporation, foursided prisms are obtained of a ycliow-white co- 

 lour. These crystals effloresce on exposure to the air, and 

 promptly lose their transparency. 



The sulphovinates may remain a long time expose^l to the air 

 without suffering decomposition. Several solutions of these salts 

 may be even boiled without sulphuric acid being formed; it is 

 only very concentrated solutions which do not support a lono- 

 ebullition. ** 



After having examined many salts formed by sulphovinous acid, 

 M. Vogcl compares this acid with hypo-sul|)huric acid. 



Both in a liquid state are colourless, verv bitter, and cannot he 

 concentrated by ebullition without being changed into sulphuric 

 acid, and into sulphurous acid. 



II h 2 Both 



