



SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN. 343 



(g.) This fluid tarnishes metallic solutions, and bright metals; e. g. 

 silver, mercury ; also, white paint, acetate of lead, muriate of bismuth, 

 nitrate of silver, &ic. 



(A.) Write with a solution of silver or lead on cards, and expose 

 them to this gas ; Dr. Henry found that T F7F part of this gas, mix- 

 ed with common air, or hydrogen, or carburetted hydrogen, pro- 

 duced a sensible discoloration of white lead, or of oxide of bismuth, 

 mixed with water and spread upon a card. 



(i.) Moisten the entire surface of cards with the solution, and ex- 

 pose them as above, when they will be entirely tarnished. 



(j.) Aqueous solution reddens infusion of violets or litmus liquor 

 or paper, and in this respect resembles the acids. 



(k.) Sulphuretted hydrogen being mixed with sulphurous acid, 

 either liquid or gaseous, sulphur is deposited by mutual decomposi- 

 tion ; if 3 volumes of sulphuretted hydrogen be mixed with 2 of sul- 

 phurous acid gas, both being dry, they are entirely condensed into 

 an orange yellow substance, having acid properties, and consisting, 

 according to Dr. Thomson, of 5 proportions of sulphur, 4 of oxygen, 

 and 3 of hydrogen.* 



(/.) Liquid sulphuretted hydrogen deposits sulphur, by exposure 

 to air, or even in a bottle, and in the channels where the sulphureous 

 mineral waters run. Fuming nitrous acid precipitates the sulphur, 

 but the colorless acid does not. 



(m.) Fuming nitrous acid, being poured into a wide mouthed re- 

 ceiver, filled with sulphuretted hydrogen, decomposition happens, and 

 a beautiful flame spreads through the interior of the vessel.f 



(n.} Chlorine decomposes this gas and precipitates the sulphur. 



(o.) Very hostile to life ; if pure, kills almost instantly ; or 

 even if mingled with a large proportion of air, it is very noxious. 

 Air containing only T1 V o- killed a bird, jfa a dog, and ^ j -$ a horse. J 

 A young rabbit, whose head was in the pure air, and its body en- 

 closed in a bladder filled with sulphuretted hydrogen, died in 15 or 

 20 minutes ; old rabbits lived longer. It is fatal, therefore, when ap- 

 plied to the surface of the body. 



(p.) Sulphuretted hydrogen precipitates all the metals, except 

 iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese, titanium, and molybdena. 



(q.) Electricity and galvanism throw down sulphur, and an equal 

 volume of hydrogen gas remains ; sulphuretted hydrogen is partially 



* Ann. Phil. Vol. XII, p. 441. 



A similar decomposition is supposed by Prof. Daubcny to be the principal source 

 of volcanic sulphur. See his lectures on Volcanos, Am. Jour. Vol. XIII, No. 2. 

 t Ann. of Phil. Vol. VIII, p. 226, and Henry, Vol. I, p. 449, 10th Ed. 

 ; Thenard, Vol. I, 723. 



