^ M. Berzelius ufon tfie Alkaline Sulphur els ^ and on 
sidering the hyposulphite as formed before the addition of water^v 
the sulphate ought to be so also. M. Berzelius observes, that 
this phenomenon does not decide the question; for at first, 
the potash or alcohol is, in reality, a hydrate ofpotash ; the hy- 
posulphite may form itself at the expence of the water, which 
ought to be replaced by the hyposulphurous acid ; and, be- 
sides, it appears, that at a lower temperature the alkalies ought 
to unite to a maximum of sulphur ; whence it follows, that the 
combinations which sulphur forms with oxygen as well as hy- 
drogen, ought to be in their maximum of sulphuration. M. Ber- 
zelius has, therefore, sought more decisive proofs. He made 
a current of dry hydrogen gas pass over sulphite of potash red- 
dened in the fire, and collected the water which is formed by 
the reduction of the sulphate. The weight of this water indi- 
cates, that the potash was decomposed conjointly with the sul- 
phuric acid ; and he obtains a sulphuret of potassium of a fine 
cinnabar red colour. By substituting sulphuretted hydrogen 
gas, or the vapours of the sulphuret of carbon in place of hydro- 
gen gas, the sulphate of potash is decomposed still more easily, 
and gives sulphurets more rich in sulphur. All these sulphu- 
rets dissolve in water, and their solutions are not disturbed by 
the muriate of barytes, — a decisive proof, that the water contri- 
butes nothing to the formation of the sulphuric acid, and, con- 
sequently, that M. Vauquelin’s idea, that this acid is formed by 
the reduction of a certain quantity of potash is perfectly correct. 
M. Berzelius has proved by experiment,, that,, on this occasion, 
three-fourths of the potash are reduced to form the sulphuric 
acid, which combines with the one-fourth which is not decom- 
posed. The ordinary Hepar may then he considered as a mix- 
ture of ONE ATOM of sulphate of potash, with three atoms of 
sulphuret of potassium, 
M. Berzelius next examines the different proportions in which 
the sulphur and the potassium may unite ; and he finds that there 
are seven different degrees* The sulphurets of potassium are 
obtained in the following, manner. 
1. The Trotosulphuret of Potassium composed of one atom 
of potassium and two atoms of sulphur, by the reduction of sul- 
phate of potash by means of carbon or hydrogen. M. Berzelius 
shews, that this sulphuret has not the combustibility which has been 
