SULPHUR. 211 



were barytes. Hence sulphate of barytes is com- 

 posed of 



Barytes . . 9-75 

 Sulphuric acid . 5 



14-75 



The salt being neutral, and 9'7<5 representing an 

 atom of barytes, 5 must represent the atomic 

 weight of sulphuric acid. 



The potash in 11 grains of sulphate of potash 

 must weigh 6, which is equivalent to an atom ; 

 for it just saturates 4*625 grains of muriatic acid, 

 which is equivalent to an atom ; and we have 

 seen that the sulphuric acid in it weighs 5. 

 Consequently, sulphate of potash is a compound 

 of 



Sulphuric acid . 5=1 atom. 

 Potash . 6=1 atom. 



11 



2. Sulphuric acid is manufactured in this conn- Method of 

 try, by the combustion of sulphur, which con- 

 verts it into sulphurous acid gas. This gas passes 

 into large leaden chambers, the bottom of which 

 is covered with about 6 inches of water ; to- 

 gether with the sulphurous acid gas, a quantity 

 of the vapour of nitrous acid passes into the 

 leaden chamber. These two acids have the pro- 

 perty of uniting together ; and they form minute 



o 2 



