174 P^^f' Berzelius and Dr. Marcet's Experiments 



properties of the Alcohol of Sulphur. 2. Experiments to ascertain 

 whether Hydrogen be present in the Alcohol of Sulphur. 3. Ex- 

 periments to ascertain the presence of Carbon. 4. Experiments to 

 ascertain the proportions of the elements of the Alcohol of Sulphur. 

 And the Appendix will contain various elucidations and colla- 

 teral objects. 



§ 1. Preparation and general Properties of the Alcolwl of Sulphur. 



We prepared this substance according to the method pointed 

 out by Clement and Desormes, that is, by slowly volatilizing 

 sulphur through red hot charcoal in a porcelain tube, and con- 

 densing in water the oily liquid which is thus formed. The 

 details of the process have so often been described elsewhere, 

 that it would be superfluous to repeat them here. The fluid 

 thus procured is of a pale yellow colour; being extremely 

 volatile, it produces a remarkable degree of cold during its 

 evaporation, and deposits in a crystalline form, some sulphur 

 which it held in solution. The quantity of sulphur thus dis- 

 solved in the oily liquor, varies according to the circumstances 

 of the process by which it is obtained;* and its specific gravity, 

 before it has been rectified, must, of course, be liable to cor- 

 responding variations.-f 



In order to obtain the alcohol of sulphur perfectly pure, it 

 is only necessary to distill it at a very gentle heat, not exceed- 

 ing 100° or 110'; and some dry muriate of lime may be put 

 into the retort, in order to obtain the liquor perfectly free from 

 moisture. The fluid which comes over is quite pure, and some 

 sulphur remains in the retort. 



• The alcohol of sulphur can dissolve as much as ^ of its weight of sulphur, 

 f We ascertained the specific gravity of only one specimen of the impure oily liquor, 

 which proved to be 1,3s i. 



