Chemistry and Physics. 253 
the same way, a white crust is produced at the common tempera- 
ture, which by heating easily melts and becomes darker, At a 
low red heat the sodium ignites, burning with a brilliant light 
and leaving a black easily fusible mass, containing no trace of 
If heated to low redness the gas is decomposed. This fact may 
be used to determine its composition as follows :— : 
Near the closed end of a U tube, a fine platinum wire is fused, 
stretching across the tube. This arm being filled with the gas 
over mercury, and its volume ascertained, the wire is maintained 
_at a bright red heat by means of the battery. About the wire the 
as is decomposed; thick heavy clouds of yellow sulphur-vapor 
all down the tube till the decomposition is complete. After cool- 
ing, the residual gas possesses the original vo ume. It is odorless, 
does not render baryta-water turbid and burns with a pale blue 
flame ; the product of the combustion renders baryta-water at once 
milky. It is hence carbonous oxyd. j 
i Milligrams. 
Since, therefore, 1 vol. (22°33 ¢.c.) carbonylic sulphid weighs 60 
and 1 vol. (22°33 ¢.¢.) carbonous oxyd weighs 28 
The weight of the sulphur in the gas is 32 
he peg 1 that this compound is contained in 
can assert almost positively t : Paskanly ; and also in 
gary. He sustains 
and perhaps in those 
