ON KERMES MINERAL. 
59 
mum of sulphur, SbS 5 . If the solution be less at repose for a 
long time, crystals of carbonate of soda are formed, and there 
is left a combination of sulphuret of sodium and sulphuret of 
antimony with a minimum of sulphur, SbS 3 . 
The precipitation of metallic antimony by the fusion of sul- 
phuret of antimony with an alkaline carbonate depends upon 
the fact that part of the sulphuret SbS 3 is changed into metal and 
into sulphuret of antimony with a maximum of sulphur SbS 5 . 
This decomposition taking place from the predisposing affini- 
ty of the alkaline metallic sulphuret present, to form a salt of 
sulphur with the maximum sulphuret. 
Less of this salt of sulphur is formed by boiling the sulphu- 
ret of antimony in a salt of sulphur, since, as before mentioned, 
this salt enters but in very small quantity into kermes thus 
prepared. Its presence should then be attributed to the oxi- 
dation of a small quantity of antimony in the persulphuret of 
antimony. 
The most ancient method of procuring metallic antimony, 
(that of Basil Valentine,) by the mixture of nitre, crude tartaric 
acid, and sulphuret of antimony, equally depends upon the 
fact, that there is formed a salt of sulphur with persulphuret of 
antimony, in consequence of which metallic antimony is sepa- 
rated. 
3. Kermes prepared by boiling sulphuret of antimony in 
a solution of an alkaline hydrate. This kermes in external 
appearance, has no resemblance with those prepared by other 
means. It forms a thick, voluminous precipitate, which it is 
difficult to wash and dry. 
Boiled in its moist state with tartar, it does not yield oxide 
of antimony, and the microscope detects no appearances of this 
oxide. Treated by dilute hydrochloric acid, it disengages, at 
the first moments of reaction, sulphuretted hydrogen gas, be- 
comes black, and resembles in every respect common sulphu- 
ret of antimony. 
Treated with hydrogen and a high temperature, there is 
formed a metallic button, surrounded by a fused mass, upon 
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