on the Alcohol of Sulphur, or Sulphuret of Carbon. 181 



acid. But we could not, in any of our experiments, detect 

 the least production of water, although our apparatus was so 

 devised, as to render the smallest quantity of water conspicu- 

 ous, and although we burnt, in some instances, as much as 

 fifty or sixty grains of the liquor. 



From all these experiments, we think ourselves warranted 

 in concluding, that the alcohol of sulphur contains no hydrogen. 



§ III. Experiments to ascertain the presence of Carbon in the 

 Alcohol of Sulphur. 



1. The gaseous residue obtained from the combustion of the 

 vapour of the alcohol of sulphur in oxygen gas, by means of 

 Volta's eudiometer (§11. 1.), being put in contact with water, 

 was in a great degree absorbed, and the water acquired the 

 taste and smell of sulphureous acid. The remaining gas being 

 agitated with lime water was partly absorbed, and produced 

 a precipitate of carbonate of lime. The unabsorbed portion 

 being mixed with oxygen gas, and the electrical spark passed 

 through the mixed gases, they detonated, and the remaining 

 elastic fluid was found to have again acquired by this detona- 

 tion the property of rendering lime water turbid, and of form- 

 ing carbonate of lime. The residue of the first detonation was 

 therefore gaseous oxyd of carbon. 



2. We introduced into a glass receiver, filled with pure 

 oxygen gas, and inverted over mercury, a small glass capsule 

 full of the oily substance, which we kindled in the air before 

 we plunged it into the gas. It continued to burn, and we were 

 not a little surprised to find, that the heat of this combustion 

 was sufficiently intense to melt a pretty strong platina wire, 

 by which the capsule was suspended, so that it fell with its 



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