on the Alcohol of Sulphur ^ or Sulphuret of Carbon. 187 



ceased for a considerable time, the capsule was withdrawn, 

 and another similar capsule filled with dry caustic potash 

 (hydrate of potash), was introduced in a similar manner. The 

 remaining gas (with the exception of a small residue),* was 

 immediately absorbed. Both capsules, after wiping off minute 

 particles of quicksilver which adhered to their surface, were 

 carefully weighed and were found to have undergone an in- 

 crease of weight, which, of course, expressed the quantity of 

 acid they had respectively absorbed. By combining these re- 

 sults with the examination above described (§ IV. 6.), of the 

 sulphuret of iron found in the tube, the proportions of sulphur 

 and carbon were deduced. Two such experiments were made 

 which yielded very similar results; and by a mode of compu- 

 tation, which will be detailed in the Appendix, we were led 

 to conclude that the alcohol of sulphur, or sulphuret of carbon 

 consists of 



Sulphur - 84,83 or 100,00 

 Carbon - - 15,17 17,89. 

 If these proportions be compared with the numbers 13 and 

 5, which are assumed by Mr. Dalton as representing the 

 respective weights of a particle of sulphur and a particle of 

 carbon; or with those of 30 and 11,4, which are considered 

 by Sir Humphry Davy as representing the same substances, 

 we shall find that either of these modes of computation, as 

 well as that detailed in the Appendix, make the above-men- 

 tioned proportions of sulphur and carbon, in the alcohol of 

 sulphur, correspond very nearly to two atoms or portions of 

 sulphur, to one of carbon ; a result which is perfectly agree- 

 able to the doctrine of determinate proportions. And as the 



• This small residue corresponded almost exactly to the quantity of air exgelled 

 from the tube in which the decomposition had been performed. 

 MDCCCXIII. C C 



