93 
INFLAMMABILITY AND EXPLOSIVENESS OK CARBON BISULPHID 
VAPOR WITH AIR. 
Three series of experiments (two with chemically pure 
carbon bisulphid, and one with ‘‘fuma” carbon bisuiphid) were 
made to determine the inflammability of mixtures of carbon 
bisulphid (CSO vapor with air. and to determine the mixtures 
which are explosive and the violence of the explosion which 
takes place when these mixtures are brought in contact with a 
gas flame. 
For the first series an atmosphere saturated with carbon 
bisulphid (CS ) vapor at about 72° F. was prepared. Portions 
of this saturated atmosphere were transferred to graduated tubes 
in which it was allowed to mix with varying amounts of air. 
Ten tubes were prepared in this way, the percentage of the 
saturated air in the mixture being increased from the first to 
the tenth. In column 1 of the following table is given the per- 
centage of air saturated with CS: vapor at 72 D F. used in the 
mixture in each' tube. In column 2 of the table the quantity of 
carbon bisulphid (grams per litef) in each is stated. In column 
3 of the table is given a statement in regard to the degree of 
inflammability or explosiveness of each of the mixtures. 
Inflammability of mixtures of CS = with the air. 
Per cent, of 
saturated 
air in’ 
mixtu e 
Grams 11 ■ f 
liquid CSo 
per liti-r of 
the mixture 
Inflammability. 
5 
0.068 
Barely inflammable. 
10 
.135 
Inflammable: very slight explosion. 
20 
.270 
Burns with slight explosion. 
30 
.405 
Distinctly stronger explosion. 
40 
.540 
Slight explosion. 
50 
.675 
Mild explosion. 
60 
.810 
Do. 
70 
.945 
Burns almost quietly; slight explosion. 
80 
1.080 
Burns almost quietly; very slight explosion. 
100 
1.350 
Burns quietly. 
a One pound per ICOO cubic feet equals O.OltS grams per liter. 
It is to be noted that the explosion which occurred was not 
violent in any case. The strongest explosions occurred with 
mixtures containing from 20 to GO volumes of air saturated with 
carbon bisulphid vapor at 72° F. mixed with 80 to 40 volumes, 
respectively, of pure air at the same temperature. 
In the second series of experiments a smaller proportion of 
carbon bisulphid was used in three cases. Five experiments 
were made. The capacity of five bottles holding 4 liters (about 
4 quarts) was obtained with approximate accuracy. For the 
charging of each bottle the quantity of liquid carbon bisulphid 
named in the following table was weighed in a small glass- 
stoppered weighing bottle. A string was tied to the stopper of 
the weighing bottle, which was then placed in the 4-liter bottle 
prepared to receive it. When the weighing bottle had reached 
