246 On a new Class of Compounds of Sulphur. [Ocr. 
is thereby neutralized, and the liquid thus prepared has all the 
properties of an aqueous solution of that salt which has been 
made from sulphuret of carbon, alcohol, and potash. When 
water is present, this acid expels carbonic acid from carbonate 
of potash, carbonate of ammonia, and carbonate of barytes. 
When black oxide of copper, red oxide of mercury, or oxide of 
lead, is thrown into this acid, there is instantly formed a yellow 
carbosulphuret of copper, white carbosulphuret of mercury, and 
carbosulphuret of lead. The same substances are formed 
when a solution of muriate or sulphate of deutoxide of copper, a 
solution of sublimate or of nitrate of lead is mixed with this acid. 
When I poured a small quantity of water on hydrocarbosulphuric 
acid just enough to cover it, and put a small quantity of 
iodine into the acid, decomposition took place, and after having 
added a fresh quantity of water, and shaken the mixture, an oil- 
like liquid separated on the bottom of the glass, which seemed 
to have all the properties of sulphuret of carbon. The liquid 
which covered it was weak hydriodic acid, which threw down 
the solution of sublimate of a beautiful red colour, the nitrate of 
lead of an equally fine yellow colour, and the nitrate of silver of a 
whitish colour. When a sufficient quantity of iodine is added to 
an aqueous solution of hydrocarbosulphate of potash, an oil-like 
liquid is soon separated on the bottom, which likewise seems to 
be a sulphuret of carbon, and the solution contains hydriodate of 
otash. 
The following remarks may serve as a conclusion : 
When a concentrated solution of potash, soda, or ammonia, is 
added to sulphuret of carbon in a small flask, a white coagulated 
mass is formed; when, after the flask being well closed and 
shaken, it is kept quiet for a moment, gas makes its escape with 
great violence, if the stopper is removed. The same effect 
takes place when the sulphuret of carbon is mixed with a small 
quantity of alcohol. The yellowish liquid out of which the salt 
of potash crystallizes rather slowly contains not a trace of sul- 
phuretted hydrogen, and has in general the properties of a 
solution of hydrocarbosulphuret, probably mixed with some 
sulphur, and a peculiar compound of carbon and hydrogen, 
which certainly is the cause of the colour of the liquid. When 
the hydrocarbosulphate of potash is thrown down from its solu- 
tionby ether, the remaining etherial liquid has the same proper- 
ties as have been just enumerated as belonging to the liquid re- 
maining after the crystallisation of the salt. 
When I, some time ago, tried the effects of olefiant gas on 
chloride of sulphur, a substance was obtained, the smell of which 
strongly resembled that of the onion. Mercury, through which 
this air was passed, had the same smell in a great degree, and 
kept it for several days even in the open air. The same is the 
case when mercury is used for the above-mentioned decomposi- 
tion. 
