314 INFLAMMABLES. 



substance, and sulphurous acid gas will be obtained ; but there are 

 other gases produced, and the process is much less neat than when 

 mercury or copper is employed ; tin answers equally well. 



3. COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES. 



(a.) Sulphurous acid gas is composed of 1 volume of sulphur in 

 vapor, and 1 volume of oxygen condensed into one volume, f or we 

 may say that the volume of the oxygen gas is not changed, but an 

 equal weight of sulphur is added to it. 



Its sp.gr. being 2.22,* and that of oxygen gas 1.11, therefore 

 the weight of the gas is divided equally between the oxygen, and the 

 sulphur. 



(6.) 100 cubic inches weigh nearly 68 grains ; accurately, it should 

 be 67.776 grains, containing 33.888 of sulphur, that is, just half.f 



(c.) It is fatal to life, producing spasms of the glottis, and killing 

 both by suffocation and excoriation ; used to destroy bees. Intol- 

 erably suffocating, disgusting, and distressing, even when breathed in 

 moderate quantity, and mixed with much air ; it creates a cough 

 and a stricture of the breast. 



(d.) Extinguishes combustion ; best shewn by a pendent candle 

 let down into a jar of the gas, as exhibited in a note to p. 187 ; it 

 may be extinguished many times, and then the gas may be poured 

 upon other candles, and will run down like water and extinguish 

 them. 



(e.) Fugaciously reddens, and soon bleaches the dark vegetable col- 

 ors. A red rose becomes white in it, as may be beautifully shown 

 by holding a red rose over a burning sulphur match, when it will be- 

 come first variegated and then white, and immersion in water re- 

 stores the color ; litmus paper is first reddened and then becomes 

 white. The color is not decomposed, for it can be restored by a 

 stronger acid or by an alkali. Turner. 



^ (f.) The aqueous solution is prepared by passing the gas, with a 

 recurved tube, through water, which, when kept cold by snow, ab- 

 sorbs 33 times its volume ;|| or 100 grains absorb 8.2 of the gas. 



(g.) The gas is spontaneously disengaged into the air ; rapidly by 

 sulphuric acid. 



(A.) Sulphuric acid, saturated ivith the sulphurous, crystallizes 

 with a moderate reduction of heat ; when distilled, it crystallizes 

 and becomes solid. 



(i.) Not decomposed by heat. 



* 2.234, Thenard 2.25, Th. and G.-Lus. t Thomson's First Priu. I. 216. 



t Ann.de Chim. et de Phys. Vol. V. 



A gratuitous cruelty, as they can be transferred to another hive, and thus, both 

 the bees and the honey can be saved. |j At 61. I'ic. 



