Experiments on Bichlorure of Sulphur and certain Carbures of Hydrogen, made in the laboratory of Jefferson College (Louisiana). By Prof. F. CHEVET.*

A CURRENT of bicarbure of hydrogen being brought to bear on some bichlorure of sulphur, under the influence of the solar rays, the gas was absorbed in considerable quantities with a great throwing off of heat. The liquid, at first of a very deep pomegranate red, gradually became orange coloured, then of a yellow orange colour. The light refracted by the ball containing the bichlorure, assumed the finest violet hue, like that produced by vapour of iodine. This colour lasted a very long time.

Among the vapours thrown off at first, the writer thought he remarked chlorohydric ether and sulphohydric ether. These vapours made the water through which they passed milky, but this effect soon ceased. Towards the end of the operation, the gases evolved burned with a very fuliginous flame, like bicarbure of hydrogen, pure; however they by no means had the same smell. There appearing to be no absorption, the liquid was gradually heated to bring about absorption, by producing an atmosphere of vapours; suddenly the yellow liquid assumed a raspberry red colour, but no marked absorption was effected. Its bulk was very viscous, like a thick syrup; its smell was penetrating and very enduring, similar to that of blackberries or raspberries; its flavour was at first sweet, then very pungent.

The next day, a deposit was found of a number of small needleshaped crystals of a deep brown.

Neither water, alcohol, nor ether, appears to dissolve these crytals to any decided amount; however alcohol discolours them, whilst it colours itself and leaves a drop of red liquid by evaporation. Water casts off from the alcoholic solution a white powdery deposit, and leaves a red drop at the bottom of the vessel. Nitric acid, cold, appears not to act, but warm, it dissolves the crystals and gives a yellow sediment of sulphur.

The crystals, having been several times washed with alcohol, assumed a light chocolate colour; after being strained through pieces of blotting paper they were discoloured, leaving on the paper a very volatile oil which rapidly disappeared, but there remained a red stain on the paper, which shows that the volatile oil is distinct from that species of colouring matter. The crystals strained through paper, were placed in the pneumatic vacuum in the presence of sulphuric acid, and moist fragments of potash; the surface of the acid became of a decidedly roseate hue, and besprinkled with small oily drops; the potash had absorbed some of the chlorine. These crystals were then pretty white, and burned in a very lively manner, bubbling up and emitting a flame which betokened the presence both of sulphur and of a resinous matter. Sulphuric acid appears

• Silliman's American Journal of Science.

powerless on these crystals, unless it be that it discolours them. Another part of the crystals having undergone a potash solution, gave a solid and very gluey deposit of a dirty yellow; the solution became yellowish; the sides of the vessel in which the operation was performed, became very greasy; the deposits, as well as the potash solution, had a very strong and decided smell of cucumber.

The red liquor, in the midst of which was the mass of crystals, slightly smoked in the open air, though its point of ebullition was pretty high; its density is greater than that of sulphuric acid, but a part floats even above the water, which betokens a complex liquid; it is insoluble in water and in ether, but rather soluble in alcohol; however, the alcoholic solution having evaporated, appears to leave the liquor untouched; water brings about a powdery deposit of a currant red.

This liquid, on distillation, gives a yellowish oil of a flavour acrid, pungent, and very enduring; it reddens the blue paper, doubtless by free chlorohydric acid.

The writer further made bichlorure of sulphur, prepared cold, react on two other carbures of hydrogen, oil of naphtha, and essence of turpentine, both as highly rectified as possible. With the oil of naphtha, the action is lively, and accompanied by a marked ebullition; the temperature rises rapidly, and a considerable quantity of chlorohydric acid is thrown off. A black deposit of a very glutinous nature was obtained; the liquid assumed a very brown red colour. The whole, being distilled, gave a yellowish liquid, which, being washed with water, furnished a yellowish and glutinous mass, floating on the liquid; it was sulphur impregnated with a very volatile oil, rapidly disappearing from the paper used for straining, and without any sediment. This mass undergoing a warm preparation with alcohol, considerably diminished in bulk, and, after cooling, oily drops gathered on the surface. Ether dissolves this species of oil better than alcohol; what remained undissolved by the ether, still betokened, on being burned, the presence of a resinous matter; it was then subjected to the influence of boiling nitric acid, which left a globule of sulphur. The washings of the distilled liquid contained much chlorohydric acid, and also some sulphuric acid.

The deposit left in the cucurbite became blacker and more plentiful; it burned like resin, and did not appear to contain sulphur; it is soluble in nitric acid, warm, and after a suitable evaporation, it deposits very long needle-shaped crystals of perfect whiteness; these crystals are of a slightly bitter favour, and have no feature of acidity.

With the essence of turpentine, the reaction is extremely tumultuous. The vessel in which the operation was made was sunk in cold water, and yet the matter boiled up considerably; the mass became very viscous, but it remained homogeneous. Distillation was performed; a great quantity of chlorohydric vapours were thrown off by the draught tube; a pomegranate-red liquid condensed in the recipient; this liquid exhaled a stinking smell, pretty similar to that

from the products of the distillation of animal matter. A very black sediment remained at the bottom of the cucurbite. On applying nitric acid to this mass, no needle-formed crystals were obtained as with the naphtha; the washings of the distilled liquid gave a very viscous reddish mass, which sank to the bottom, instead of the floating yellowish mass obtained with the naphtha.

Not having at my disposal the means and appliances for proceeding to organic analyses, I have been unable to ascertain the composition of the different products to which the reactions above described gave rise: a composition, the knowledge of which is indispensable to a correct appreciation of these products. In publishing this memorandum I have therefore had no other object in view but to point out a few facts relating to the action of bichlorure of sulphur on carbures of hydrogen-facts which have appeared to me worthy to engage the attention of chemists, and susceptible of being connected with one another, and brought under the laws of a common theory.

Deprived of the apparatus and reactives necessary for this study, I have deemed it my duty to give publicity to an entirely novel subject of inquiry, which, in my opinion, holds out a certainty of important discoveries; and I hope and trust that some American chemist, placed in circumstances more favourable, and especially one more skilful, will, by following up this subject of inquiry, ere long enrich the science with several new and interesting combinations.

MISCELLANEOUS.
Cast Iron Battery.

In answer to our Arnheim* correspondent's enquiries in a letter, dated March 3rd, respecting the charge of acidulated water for the castiron battery, described in vols. v, and vi, of the Annals, we would say, that no charge of acid liquor will keep it in constant action for two successive hours. The proportions of sulphuric acid to the water, for the best action, would be as 1 to 6, or to 5, but the action suffers a diminution in half an hour, though the battery will keep in good action for more than two hours. With a less proportion of acid, the action is more equable for a longer period; and an occasional renewal of acid liquor will keep it in good action for any required time; this is also the case with all batteries: they must be occasionally fed to keep up their actions.

With respect to the electro-gasometer, we will describe that which we employ in our next number; but we would remark in this place, that the platinum plates for twenty-four pairs of metals, in a double series of twelve, which is the best arrangement, each plate of the decomposing apparatus should not be less than eight inches square thirty pairs is not a good number for decomposition of acidulated water.-EDIT.

• In Holland.

CALOTYPE PAPER.

To the Editor of the Annals of Electricity, &c.

SIR,-In my note on the preparation of calotype paper, in your last number, page 144, there is a slight mistake, which, as it may have arisen from my mistake in writing, I hasten to correct. It is this: "nitrate of silver to contain 1.20 grs;" for which read "nitrate of silver to contain 120 grs." The strength of this solution may, however, be considerably varied, as the proportion of the salt used by Mr. Talbot answers very well for many purposes.

I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,

C. J. T.

ELECTRO-MAGNETISM AS A MOVING POWER. The ConsulGeneral of the Netherlands, in a late communication, announces the removal of the obstacle to the practical application of electro-magnetism as a propelling power:- "A private gentleman, Mr. Elias, of Haarlem, has just published the description of a new machine invented by him, for the application of electro-magnetism as a substitute for steam. The object of the inventor has been chiefly to remedy the defects which, in 1839, rendered the otherwise ingenious invention of Mr. Jacobi, of St. Petersburg, a total failure, in as far as practical utility is concerned. Those defects originated, it seems, in the erroneous supposition, that the power of the magnetic bars exclusively resides in their extremities-whence the form hitherto given to all electro-magnetic machines; viz., that of a horse-shoe,-which while it occasions an unavoidable interruption of the magnetic stream at each new inversion of the poles, at the same time leaves the power resident in the remaining part of the bars wholly unemployed. *The new invention of Mr. Elias, on the contrary, has the very great advantage of rendering effective the full power of the magnetic stream uninterruptedly, and throughout the whole body of the apparatus. This consists of two concentric rings of soft iron, standing on the same plane, of which the external one is immoveable, whilst that on the inside revolves round its own axis. By means of a piece of copper wire, wound about each of these rings, he has given them six magnetic poles, placed at equal distances from one another; the whole being so contrived that the one ring exerts its inducing power on the other throughout the whole circumference, and always at the same distance. A small, but very perfect, model of this important invention is now open to public inspection here; and the result of its operation is allowed, by those skilled in such matters, to be such as to ensure the most triumphant success."-Mining Journal.

* For an illustration of this force see "Sixth Memoir," Annals, vol. vi. p. 295.-EDIT.