^48 INQUIRIES RESPECTING CARBONACEOUS BIATTER. 



In all c^ses mixtures of* ssilphuietted hidrogen gas and bi- 



drocarbonate wei*' e olven. 



Liqiior ob- I particularly examined a speciaieii of the liquor, which 



tamed from \^.j^^ been obtaiiicd in the last process from chaicoal that had 

 clia'coal ofieu ^ ,. , . . , 



used, been oiten used, it wus a uoucouductor ot electricity, and, 



whei. the Voltaic spark was taken iu it, did not evolve gas 



with more rapidity than sulphur; and this gas proved to be 



sulphuretted hidrogen. 



Absorbed mu- Supposing the liquor to contain hidrogen in considerable 



"^ .'f .ff ' ' .^" quantities, I conceived that it must be decomposed by oxi- 

 positing crys- ' . . . r J 



tab of sulphur, muriatic acid ; but it merely absorbed thjs substance, de- 

 positing crystals of common sulphur, and becoming a fluid 

 similar to the sulphuretted muriatic acid; though when 

 water was introduced, hydrated sulphur was instantly form- 

 ed, and muriatic acid gas evolved. 

 Thesiilphurin From the (juantity of carbonic acid formed by the com- 

 it contain', Jess y^^^g^j^j^ of the carburetted inflammable gas, produced in 

 oxigen tluin in _ a ' i 



its common the operation of the action of well buint charcoal upon sul- 



*^''^^^- phur, it may be conceived to contain oxigen. This circum- 



stance, a".d the fact that no hidrate of sulphur or muriatic 

 acid gns is formed by the operation of oximuriatic acid 

 upon the liquor, but common sulphur precipitated; are in 

 favour of the opinion, that the sulphur in this liquor con- 

 tains less oxigen than in its common state. This iJea has 

 likewise occurred to Dr. Mavcet, who is engaged in some 

 experiments on the subject, and from whose skiil and accu- 

 racy farther elucidations of it may be expected, 



III. Farther inqviries respecting carbonaceous matter. 



Charcoal ex- On the idea which 1 have stated, page 74 f, that the dia- 

 posedtothe i^ond may consist of the carbonaceous matter combined 

 with a little oxigen, 1 exposed charcoal intensely ignited, 

 by. Voltaic electricity^, to nitrogen, conceiving it possible, 



* Five measures of the ir/ixed gas, agitatftd with solution of potash, 

 lef' a residuum of 3 5. The-(! w<-re. detonated with 5"5 of oxigen j the 

 wbuU; dliii-nution, was to 5. Of tins residuum 2'5 appeared to be car- 

 bonic acid. 



+ See Journal, vol XXIII, p. .^30. 



t The ajiparatus was (he same as that refened to page 69. [Jouraal, 

 vol XXUl, p. 321.] The power employed was that of the battery of 

 500 beloiigiiig to the Royal InstiuitJoa. 



that 



sen. 



