LIQUID PROPERTIES. 
The liquid is one-fourth heavier than water, its specific 
gravity being 1.29 at the freezing temperature of water. It is 
extremely refractive, so that when its surface is disturbed it 
reflects the light from the ripples much more strongly than 
does water. It is very volatile, evaporating with great rapidity 
when freely exposed to the air. The rapidity of evaporation 
depends mainly upon the area of the evaporating surface and 
the temperature of the liquid and the air. It may be retarded 
by mixing the liquid with various substances, and is wholly 
prevented by covering the surface of the carbon bisulphid with 
a layer of water, which, being lighter, floats easily on top just 
as kerosene does upon water. The rapid evaporation of the 
liquid takes up a large amount of heat. If a little be poured 
upon the hand, a burning sensation will be experienced, which, 
however, is due, not to a burning, but to a cooling process, 
as may be perceived by touching the spot with the other hand. 
No harm need be feared from getting it upon the skin. When 
perfectly pure the liquid has an acrid taste and a rather sweet- 
ish, not unpleasant, ethereal odor, quite similar to that of ether 
or chloroform. Pure carbon bisulphid is completely volatile* 
and will not injure or stain the finest fabrics. Even when poured 
directly upon food stuffs their edibility is not at all impaired, 
and all trace of the odor disappears quickly upon free and full 
exposure to the air. The ordinary commercial article, however, 
has a slightly yellowish tinge due to its impurities, which also 
give it a rank fetid odor that is extremely obnoxious. These 
impurities add to its poisonous qualities. When the impure 
article is used, some slight residue may be left after the evap- 
oration of the liquid. For this reason this grade will stain goods, 
and it should not be poured upon food stuffs, though its vapor 
will do them no harm. Liquid carbon bisulphid is not at all 
explosive, so there need be no fear of handling it, provided the 
cans are perfectly tight. It is best kept in an outhouse where 
there is no fire and where it is dry, so that the cans will not rust 
and allow the vapors to escape through leaks. The liquid boils 
at 115° F., but a few degrees higher than the temperature of the 
human body. One volume of the liquid is said to give 375 vol- 
umes of vapor upon evaporation. 
VAPOR PROPERTIES. 
The vapor of carbon bisulphid is 2.G3 times as heavy as air. 
and can therefore be poured from one glass to another almost 
like water. It can be seen flowing down over the edge of an 
open vessel containing the liquid. Although it diffuses quite 
rapidly through the air, as can be perceived by its odor, it is 
evident that the vapor will always tend to work downward more 
strongly than upward and that it will always be more dense at 
the lower levels. This point should be borne in mind, as it has 
an important bearing upon the application of the bisulphid. The 
vapor, as well as the watery solution, is a powerful disinfectant. 
Meats will keep in an atmosphere of it for months without 
change. Lamps have been devised for burning carbon bisulphid 
in disinfection work, but, as the active disinfectant is the same 
gas as is formed by burning pure sulphur or brimstone, it can 
be obtained more cheaply in the latter way. 
