128 M. Rose on the Combinations of 
II. Combinations of Antimony and Sulphur. 
I have made many experiments on the sulphurets of antimo- 
ny, and only found three which correspond with the oxides of 
that metal. 
The sulphuret of antimony with 3 atoms of sulphur has dif 
ferent colours. That which is found native is of a lead-gray. 
Its composition has been made known by Berzelius. It is 
analogous to the oxide of antimony, with 3 atoms of oxygen ; 
for it dissolves without residuum in hydrochloric acid, disen- 
gaging only sulphuretted hydrogen. ) 
The same sulphuret of antimony is obtained by passing a 
current of sulphuretted hydrogen through a solution contain- 
ing oxide of antimony; but it is of an orange colour, nearly 
similar to that of the golden sulphuret. It becomes brownish 
by drying, and then takes an aspect more like kermes. This 
same sulphuret is obtained by passing sulphuretted hydrogen 
through a solution of tartar emetic, or through a solution of 
butter of antimony in water and tartaric acid. ; 
The kermes mineral is, as M. Berzelius first showed, of a 
composition exactly similar. Its colour, however, is brownish 
red *, 
The deuto-sulphuret of antimony with 4 atoms of sulphur 
is of an orange colour, very like that of the golden sulphuret. 
It is formed, if sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through a 
solution of antimonious acid. Nevertheless, tartaric acid must 
not be added to enable the liquid to be diluted with water, but 
hydrochloric acid only+. The best way to obtain a solution 
of antimonious acid, is to dissolve antimony in aqua regia, and 
to evaporate the solution to dryness. ‘Then the antimonic 
acid which is formed is changed into antimonious acid by a 
red heat; this is fused with caustic potash, and the melted. 
mass is treated with hydrochloric acid and water till a clear. 
liquor is obtained. I precipitated this solution by sulphuretted 
with which they had perhaps formed a chloride with 4 atoms of chlorine. 
I therefore passed some chlorine over chloride of sulphur, and carefully pu- 
rified it by distillation from the sulphur dissolved, in order to detect such a 
chloride of sulphur. The chloride of sulphur indeed took a little darker, 
colour ; but there was no other change, although I made the chlorine pass 
over it for a long time. 
* I analysed a kermes that I had prepared by digesting black sulphuret 
of antimony with a solution of carbonate of potash. | dried it at a mode- 
rate temperature, until it contained no more hygroscopic moisture, and de- 
composed it by hydrogen. 0°719 gramme (11°] grs.) of kermes gave me 0°520 
gramme (8 grs.) of antimony : its composition then was 72°32 antimony and 
27°68 sulphur. 
+ Very remarkable results are obtained if tartaric acid is added to anti- 
monious acid. —I shall make it the subject of a separate memoir. 
hydrogen : 
