INTRODUCTORY EXERCISES 13 



IV. — ^Properties of Sulphur. 



Apparatus. — Half a teaspoonful of flowers of sulphur or a piece 

 of stick sulphur, a silver spoon, a hard-boiled egg, a raw egg, an 

 evaporating dish, alcohol lamp or Bunsen burner. 



Directions. — ^Examine a little of the sulphur. Has it 

 any odor? taste? color? Shake some up in water. Does 

 it dissolve? 



Place a little in the dry evaporating dish and heat 

 gently. Does it melt? Describe its condition. Continue to 

 heat and describe the various changes through which it 

 passes. 



Touch a match to a little dry sulphur. Does it burn? 

 Describe the result. Smell of the fumes (Caution!). Where 

 have you noticed this odor before? (This odor is due to 

 a gas called an oxide of sulphur and this gas is formed when- 

 ever sulphur is burned.) 



Place a Uttle of the sulphur in the bowl of the silver 

 spoon. After a moment brush it off. Is the silver still 

 bright? (When silver is brought in contact with sulphur 

 the latter unites with it and forms a compound called 

 sulphide of silver, which is black.) 



Mince the hard-boiled egg with the handle of the silver 

 spoon. What happens? Compare with above result. (The 

 two stains are identical and the latter indicates the presence 

 of sulphur in eggs.) 



Place the raw egg in a clean evaporating dish and leave 

 in a warm place for several days.^ When the egg decays 

 note the odor. (This odor is due to another compound of 



^ It is well to place the dish in a closed vessel containing a little water, as 

 otherwise the egg may dry up without decaying. 



