306 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Jrticles. 



Srdly. Chloral deprived of water is a liquid heavier than water, and 

 unites with it. In combination with water it changes after some 

 time into a white powder, which is insoluble in water ; 



4thly. The anhydrous alkalies do not decompose chloral, but with 

 the addition of water it is converted into formic acid, and a new 

 chloride of carbon ; 



5thly. This new chloride of carbon is produced also in great quan- 

 tity by distilling alcohol with chlorite (chloride) of lime. 



6thly. By the action of chlorine upon aether and pyro-acetic spirit, 

 compounds analogous to chloral are produced. — Ann. de C/i. et de 



Phys. xlviii. p. 223. 



ox HYDRURET OF SULPHUR. 



M. Thcnard has lately published a very remarkable work on the 

 hydruret of sulphur; this substance, obtained by Scheele, and ex- 

 amined by Berthollet and Berzelius, acquires great importance from 

 the observations of iM. Thenard, who remarks that a perfect analogy 

 exists between its properties and those of oxigenatad water. 



The composition of hydruret of sulphur is very variable: M. 

 Thenard found in it one atom of sulphuretted hydrogen, or its ele- 

 ments, and 6 or 8 atoms of sulphur. To prepare it, M. 'ihenard 

 employs muriatic acid diluted with twice its weight of water, and 

 the hydruretted sulphuret of lime obtaii\ed by boiling lime, with at 

 great excess of sulphur, in water. The acid being poured into a 

 funnel, the aperture of which is corked, the sulphuret is afterwards 

 very slowly added, taking care to stir the mixture continually. The 

 hydruret of sulphur, which separates first, is more fluid than that 

 which is afterwards obtained. Nothing is easier than to procure it 

 in separate portions. 



The hydruret of sulphur is liquid, but its consistence is very vari- 

 able ; it is yellow, sometimes with a tint of greenish brown. It 

 whitens the tongue in the same manner as oxigenated water^ and 

 occasions a smarting sensation. It whitens and alters the skin ra- 

 pidly. The colour of turnsole is immediately destroyed by it. 



Its smell is peculiar and disagreeable ; at 140° to 160° of Fahr. 

 it begins to decompose into sulphur and sulphuretted hydrogen. 

 When suffered to remain, it gives out from time to thiie bubbles of 

 sulphuretted hydrogen, and sulphur only remains. Charcoal and 

 several metals in powder disengage sulphuretted hydrogen. The 

 same occurs with a great number of oxides, as the peroxide of man- 

 ganese, silica, the alkaline oxides ; and, what is very remarkable, 

 potash and soda in solution produce the sarne effect. 



The easily reducible oxides, as those of gold, silver &c., occasion 

 instantaneous ignition ; the oxide is reduced, and water is formed. 



All the sulphurets tend to disengage sulphuretted hydrogen. This 

 effect is especially remarkable with the alkaline persulphurets in so- 

 lution ; but then sulphur is deposited. Some organic matters decom- 

 pose hydruret of sulphur but slowly. The action is rather stronger 

 with animal substances; water and alcohol do not dissolve it ; but 

 it decomposes in them, though but slowly. Sulphuric aether dissolves 

 it, and soon leaves crystals, which appear to be sulphur. 



.\cid 



