40 M. Grotthuss on the [Jan. 
is composed ; and I hope that the term will be adopted by 
chemists. It is composed of abbreviations of the Greek words 
avout, charcoal, «fon, axote, and bzov, sulphur. As this acid - 
contains no oxygen, but hydrogen (as is sufficiently established 
by Porrett’s experiments); and as it appears from my experiments 
and from those of Porrett that when exposed to the action of the 
Voltaic battery its sulphur separates at the positive pole, but its 
hydrogen with its other constituents makes its escape in a 
gaseous form at the negative pole, it follows that it must be 
considered as a Aydracid. With respect to the name hydracid, 
two remarks must be made. 1. In the hydracids, and conse- 
quently in anthrazothionic acid, it has been shown that the 
hydrogen acts the same part that oxygen-does in other acids, . 
and that itis substituted for it. 2. At present no other acid is 
known composed of anthraxothion (carbon, azote, and sulphur) 
and oxygen. I have not been able indeed to obtain the prin- 
ciple, to which I give the name of anthraxothion, im an isolated 
state; but I conclude from analogy with cyanogen, and from 
various other reasons to be stated below, that it exists atleast in 
a state of combination. From this non-existence of a combina- 
tion of anthrazothion and oxygeu, I conclude that the principle 
‘is not lable to change its state.. By the term anthrazothion, I 
mean anthrazothionic acid deprived of its hydrogen. When this 
acid comes in contact with easily reducible metallic oxides, its 
hydrogen combines with the oxygen of the oxide, and forms 
water, while the anthrazothion forms a combination with the 
reduced metal. 
I may remark here by the way, that those acids whose radical 
becomes acid as well by uniting with oxygen as with hydrogen, 
may be very easily distinguished from each other by the electro- ~ 
chemical properties of the radical. Thus, forexample, sulphuric 
acid might be called schwefelplussaure (sulphur plus acid), and 
sulphuretted hydrogen schwefe/ninussaure (sulphur minus acid). 
By this the cacophony of the frequent repetition of the syllable 
stoff would be avoided.* i 
Sect. 2. Preparation and Properties of Anthraxothionate of 
Potash.—Porrett has described ditierent methods of forming this 
salt, which may be seen in his paper. 1 conceive that it will not 
be superfluous to give an account of the way by which I procured 
it in a state of purity. 
One part of prussiate of potash in the state of dry crystals was 
rubbed to a fine powder with the third part of its weight of 
sulphur, and the mixture beaten down firm into a crucible, in 
the bottom of which a little sulphur had been previously put. 
This crucible was put into the fire, covered, raised to a red heat, 
and allowed to remain at that temperature for half an hour or 
* It is obvious that the preceding section relates entirély to ihe names in the 
German language. - I found some difficulty in making it intelligible to the English 
reader, and aw not sure that I have succeeded, —T. 
