286 M. Berzelius on the (er. 
etted hydrogen having lost sulphur during the. formation of the 
hepar, this circumstance would seem to indicate a combination 
formed in determinate proportions which did not allow of its 
retaining the whole of the sulphur. In this case, it would be 
KS’, and one gramme of sulphate of potash ought to weigh 
1-093 after its decomposition by sulphuretted hydrogen. If the 
-gas had deposited all its sulphur, the combination would have 
been K.S'°. It appears then that in this operation three atoms 
of sulphur escape with the gaseous bodies ; but I shall return 
hereafter to the different degrees of sulphuration of the potas- 
sium. 
The same experiment was repeated, with this difference, that 
vapours of sulphuret of carbon were passed over the sulphate of 
potash. A gramme of this salt furnished 1:22 gramme of sul- 
phuret of potassium, which, decomposed in the manner above 
stated, produced 
ROLES TNR Sone danas si 44-9 
Sulphur (precipitated) ............5. 58°1 
Sulphur (of the sulphuretted hydrogen) 18-4 
121-4 
The liquor precipitated by muriatic acid did not contain any 
trace of sulphuric acid. The sulphuret of potassium approxi- 
_mated K S*, whereas the combination resulting from the total 
decomposition of the sulphate of potash by the sulphuret of car- 
bon ought to be, as in the preceding experiment, K S'° It 
should then weigh 119, instead of 122. Thus the actual result 
exceeds the eight atoms by the same quantity that the preced- 
ing result exceeded seven atoms. These experiments prove 
then most clearly, that the hepar obtatned was sulphuret of potas- 
sium of different. degrees of sulphuration, and that by means of the 
presence of sulphur, a moderate degree of heat only is required to 
_reduce potash to potassium by hydrogen or by carbon. The glass 
was not acted upon in any of these experiments. 
Five grammes of pure lime (deprived of water and. carbonic 
acid) were introduced into a weighed porcelain tube, and exposed 
to a current of sulphuretted hydrogen gas. As soon.as the 
atmospheric air had been driven out, the tube was heated to 
redness in that part which contained the lime. | Aqueous 
vapours appeared, which were collected by muriate of lime. The 
operation was continued as long as the escape of water with the 
gas was perceived ; the tube was suffered to cool, sulphuretted 
hydrogen gas being continually passed through it. I obtained 
1:57 gramme of water, and there remained in the tube 6:41 
EFARIRES, which is very nearly the weight that ought to result 
from the.convyersion of lime:into ;sulphuret of calcium, and the 
combination ef the oxygen with the hydrogen. of the sulphuret- 
ted hydrogen, The compound was dissolved in muriatic acid 
