262 



Experiments to determine the 



[Oct. 



symbol of an atom of acid gas is, then, SOAH; of the hydrogen 

 combined with it, H ; of the azote, residuum A. 



On the Composition of the Unknown Gas, resulting from the 

 Decomposition of Water. 



According to the views afforded by the foregoing calculation, its 



33 



atom will be expressed by the symbol ASH. We will see hov? 



this result agrees with its ascertained properties, and we can at the 



same time deduce its composition. It will be recollected that 100 



cubic inches of this gas weighed 2S-02 grains (p. 185). The weight 



of its atom will be (4 + 1799 + 0-399 =) 6-198. 



Sulphur 6-198 



Azote 6-198 



Hjdrogen 6 198 



6198 



4-556 



28-02 = 108-21 



It is here shown that such a combination of azote and hydrogen 

 gases holding sulphur in solution would weigh near 28 grains for 

 every 100 cubic inches. It will appear singular when we observe 

 that the proportion of the azote to the hydrogen is exactly similar 

 to that of ammonia : in short, that this gas is a combination of the 

 elements of one atom of ammonia united to two atoms of sulphur, 

 and that such a compound exists in the gaseous state. Could it be 

 supposed as a sulphuret of ammonia, our surprise would increase 

 when our attention was turned to its chemical properties ; alkaline 

 sulphurets are not only easily soluble in water, but are always eager 

 to decompose it ; in this case we perceive no relation whatever 

 between it and water. The present sera is remarkable for the 

 extreme peculiarity of its newly discovered bodies ; and we should 

 not suffer the singularity of such a compound to lead us into the 

 belief that it cannot exist. The combination is doubtless to be 

 effected by other processes, different from the one in which this was 

 procured. 



To ascertain the Weight of an Atom of Acid Gas, 



I passed 2*25 cubic inches of the gas extracted from the flask 

 through a solution of the super-acetate of lead ; a precipitate of 

 .small black shining flakes instantly formed, which, when collected 



