32 M. Bonsdorff on the [July, 



1*27 gramme. The caoutchouc tube was now fixed on, and all 

 the other parts of the apparatus were adjusted to their places. 

 After the hydrogen gas had passed over a good while, and the 

 whole atmospherical air had been driven out of the tube, the 

 powder was gradually heated by means of a spirit-lamp. Water 

 began very quickly to be formed, and was deposited in the form 

 of vapour on the sides of the glass globe. When the hydrogen 

 gas passed over briskly, the aqueous vapour was carried off by 

 the current, and was naturally absorbed by the chloride of cal- 

 cium in G ; but when the hydrogen gas passed over slowly, or 

 only at intervals, the water collected in drops in the pipe. After 

 the process had continued two or three hours, the antimoniacal 

 mass had in part passed through the glass globe, and a little 

 sulphur began to appear on its outside. The fire was of neces- 

 sity withdrawn, and the process stopped. During the whole 

 continuance of the operation sulphuretted hydrogen gas was 

 disengaged, and conducted by means of the crooked tube into 

 a glass containing liquid ammonia in order to prevent it from 

 making its way into the room. Into the tube beyond the glass 

 globe, O04 gramme of water had condensed, and the tube con- 

 taining the chloride of calcium had increased considerably in 

 weight. But it is needless to state this increase, because the 

 portion of the chloride nearest the ammoniacal water had deli- 

 quesced in consequence of the evaporation of a portion of that 

 liquid into it. The residual matter in E weighed 1*005 ; and 

 consequently it had lost in oxygen and sulphur 0*265 gr. It 

 consisted of a multitude of small metallic reguli, and of a brass- 

 yellow crystallized sublimate, which seemed to have the octahe- 

 dral form. There was also a little sublimate in the tube, which 

 had more of the metallic lustre, and was more shining, and 

 which probably was merely sulphuret of antimony. The yellow 

 crystallized substance dissolved with ease in aqua regia, and 

 seemed to consist chiefly of sulphur. 



Decomposition of Red Silver Ore by Hydrogen Gas. 



When it was thus ascertained that hydrogen gas is capable of 

 reducing oxide of antimony from its combination with sulphuret 

 of antimony, the same process was undertaken with red silver 

 ore, and at the same time measures were taken to collect and 

 decompose all the sulphuretted hydrogen formed during the 

 process, that the quantity of sulphur in the ore might be like- 

 wise determined. For this purpose a somewhat concentrated 

 solution of sulphate of copper was prepared, and a portion of it 

 (previously deprived of its atmospherical air by boiling) was put 

 into two phials ; and another portion supersaturated with am- 

 monia, so that a clear solution was obtained, was put into two 

 other phials. A new portion of chloride of calcium was put 

 into the tube G, and its weight was again determined, and from 



