95 
Inflammability of “fuma” carbon bisulphid in mixture with air. 
Carbon bi- 
splphid 
sulphid 
per liter 
per liter 
of air 
Carbon bi- 
sulphid 
sulphid 
per 1,000 
per 1,000 
cubic feet | 
of air 
Inflammability. 
0.002 
0.004 
0.008 
0.016 
0.032 
0.051 
0.084 
0.167 
0.214 
0.238 
0.356 
0.468 
0.594 
0.764 
0.12 
0.25 
0.50 
1.0 
2.0 
3.18 
5.24 
10.42 
13.35 
14.85 
22.21 
29.20 
37.07 
Not inflammable. 
Not inflammable. 
No general combustion; little or no mantle 
around gas jet plunged into the mixture. 
No general combustion ;* small blue mantle of 
burning carbon bisulphid formed around gas 
jet. 
No general combustion; large blue mantle 
formed around gas jet and in path of pro- 
ducts of combustion. 
No general combustion; large blue mantle 
formed around gas jet and in path of pro- 
ducts of combustion. 
Flame traveled slowly to the bottom of t*he bot- 
tle. 
Very inflammable; scarcely explosive. 
Very inflammable; Distinct explosion. 
Strong explosion. 
Still stronger explosion. 
Less strong explosion than next preceding mix- 
ture. 
Less strong explosion than next preceding mix- 
47.67 
ture. 
Less strong explosion than next preceding mix- 
ture. but very inflammable. 
The temperature at which the vapor ignites when mixed 
with air is given in chemical text-books as 300° F. Inasmuch as 
it is sometimes necessary or desirable to use the vapor in rooms 
in which there are steam pipes or other heating apparatus, it 
seemed desirable to confirm or redetermine its ignition point. 
In the experiments made in the Bureau of Chemistry it was 
found that the vapor could not be ignited at 296.6° F., but twice 
it took fire at 297.5° F. Of course all higher temperatures would 
ignite it. Chemically pure carbon bisulphid was used for these 
experiments. 
Mr. C. E. Monroe in an address before the American Chem- 
ical Society says: “One of the most striking characteristics of 
the mixture which this vapor forms with air is its low point of 
ignition. The tiniest spark, a cinder after it has ceased to glow, 
or the striking together of two pieces of iron without sparking 
are sufficient to determine the ignition.” In the open air the 
line of ignition appears to be quite close to that of the liquid 
itself as is stated by some writers and shown in some experi- 
ments by the author; but Dr. C. V. Riley once stated that the 
vapor ignites “at a great distance from the vessel containing it." 
In a closed space the ignition depends upon the presence of the 
vapor in proper proportions and may take place at almost any 
distance from the liquid. This explosive property of the mixture 
of the vapor with air is similar to that of alcohol, petroleum 
products, etc., though its ignition temperature is much lower. 
The flame extinguishes itself in a closed vessel which does not 
allow access to the air. 
