1814.] On Siilphuret of Carlon. 185 



Article V. 



On Siilphuret of Carlo??. By Dr. J, BerzcIIus and Dr. Marcct. 

 Aljiidged from tlie Plulosophical Transactions for IS] 3. To 

 which are added several additional facts communicated hy Pro- 

 fessor Berzelius.* 



Alcohol of sulphur was first noticed by Lampadius in I'JOG, 

 and considered by him as a compound of sulphur and hj'drogen. 

 Clement and Desormes who obtained it by passing sulphur through 

 red-hot charcoal, endeavoured to prove that it was a compound of 

 sulphur and carbon. Berthollet considered it as a triple compound 

 ui carbon, sulphur, and hydrogen ; and Bertliollet, junior, endea- 

 voured to prove the accuracy of the original opinion of Lampadius. 

 Tlie question has been at last solved by the experiment of Berzelius 

 and JSJarcet ; while a similar result was obtained at the sam« 

 lime in Paris by Thcnard and Vauquelin. 



It may be obtained by volatilizing sulphur slov.ly through red-hot 

 cliarcoal, and condensing in water the oily liquid thus formed. This 

 liquid is at first of a yellow colour, but by distilling it a second time 

 in a heat not exceeding 110" it is obtained in a state of purity. 



It is transparent and colourless, like water. It has an acrid, 

 pungent, and somewhat aromatic taste, and a nauseous smell, quite 

 ditVcrcnt from tliat of sidphuretcd hydrogen. Its specific gravity is 

 l"27-j and its refractive power \'G4'>. Its expansive force, at the 

 temperature of SS'S", is equal to a column of mercury J-^G inches 

 in height. It boils briskly between the temperature of 105° and 

 1 10''. It does not congeal at the temperature of ()0°. It takes fire 

 at a temperature scarcely exceeding that at which mercury boils, 

 burns with a l)lue flame, and emits copious fumes of sulphurous 

 acid. If a long glass tube, open at both ends, is held over the 

 flame, no moisture whatever is deposited on its inside. It dissolves 

 readily in alcohol and ether, but is insoluble in water. It readily 

 incorporates with cither the fixed or volatile oils. It dissolves cam- 

 phor very readily. 



When heated in contact witli pota«Fium it is not decomposed ; but 

 if i)0tassium Ijc heated in tiie vapour of this liquid, it l)urns with a 

 reddish (lame, and a black film appears upon the surface. On ad- 

 mitting water, a greenish solution of sulphurct of potash is oljtalued, 

 containing a mixture of charcoal. jSieither mercury nor the amal- 

 gams of silver and lead are altered by it. The alkalies dissolve it 

 t;ntireiy, thougli \eiy slowly. None of the acids exert any action on 

 it, except the nitro-inuriaiic and eiilorine, in a moist state. It com- 

 bines with a/otane under water, and prevents it from fulminating, 



From a variety of delicate experiments, particularly from its pass- 



• Tlir«c n-ldilional f.ict<, wliirli .-irr of rou«itlci','il)l« impormncF, nftie ^lut iatt) 

 ^^n^ liamls of tlic li.liluj by J)r. Miirnt. 



