72 Experiments on Bickloriire of Sulphur, &fc. 



granate red, graiually became orange colored, then of a yellow 

 orange color. The light refracted by the ball containing the 

 bichlorure, assumed the finest violet hue, like that produced by 

 vapor of iodine. This color lasted a very long time. 



Among the vapors thrown off at first, the writer thought he 

 remarked chlorohydric ether and sulphohydric ether. These va- 

 pors made the water through which they passed milky, but this 

 effect soon ceased. Towards the end of the operation, the gases 

 evolved burned with a very fuliginous flame, like bicarbure of 

 hydrogen, pure ; however they by no means had the same smell. 

 There appearing to be no absorption, the liquid was gradually 

 heated to bring about absorption, by producing an atmosphere 

 of vapors ; suddenly the yellow liquid assumed a raspberry red 

 color, but no marked absorption was effected. Its bulk was very 

 viscous like a thick syrup; its smell was penetrating and very 

 enduring, similar to that of blackberries or raspberries ; its flavor 

 was at first sweet, then very pungent. 



The next day, a deposit was found of a number of small nee- 

 dle-shaped crystals of a deep brown. 



Neither water, alcohol, nor ether, appears to dissolve these 

 crystals to any decided amount ; however, alcohol discolors them, 

 whilst it colors itself and leaves a drop of red liquid by evapora- 

 tion. Water casts off from the alcoholic solution a white pow- 

 dery deposit, and leaves a red drop at the bottom of the vessel. 

 Nitric acid, cold, appears not to act, but warm, it dissolves the 

 crystals and gives a yellow sediment of sulphur. 



The crystals, having been several times washed with alcohol, 

 assumed a light chocolate color ; after being strained through 

 pieces of blotting paper, they were discolored, leaving on the 

 paper a very volatile oil which rapidly disappeared, but there 

 remained a red stain on the paper, which shows that the volatile 

 oil is distinct from that species of coloring matter. The crystals 

 strained through paper, were placed in the pneumatic vacuum in 

 the presence of sulphuric acid and moist fragments of potash ; 

 the surface of the acid became of a decidedly roseate hue and 

 besprinkled with small oily drops ; the potash had absorbed 

 some of the chlorine. These crystals were then pretty white, and 

 burned in a very lively manner, bubbling up and emitting a flame 

 which betokened the presence both of sulphur and of a resinous 

 matter. Sulphuric acid appears powerless on these crystals, un- 



