A new system of chemical philosophy, Volume 2, Part 1Dalton, John
Science
A new system of chemical philosophy, Volume 2, Part 1
Dalton, John
Atomic theory; Chemistry, Inorganic
I have made many experiments occasionally since 1805, on the quantities
of oxygen absorbed and sulphur deposited by quadrisulphuret of lime.
They all concur in establishing the same conclusion; namely, that each
atom of the compound takes 2 of oxygen and deposits 2 of sulphur,
in its transformation from the yellow to the colourless state. For
instance, 100 measures of the above 1.056 took 900 of oxygen gas = 1.22
grains, and let fall 2 grains of sulphur, besides a small portion which
adhered to the bottle, which was estimated at a few tenths of a grain.
The method is to put 100 measures into a graduated and well stoppered
bottle filled with oxygen; to agitate briskly for half an hour,
occasionally opening the stopper a little under water to admit its
entrance into the place of the oxygen absorbed. Whenever the agitation
has been continued for five minutes without any sensible increase in
absorption, and the liquor, after standing to let the sulphur subside,
appears colourless, the experiment is finished. This new combination
then consists of 1 atom lime, 2 sulphur, and 2 oxygen = 66; it will be
necessary to give it a name: I propose calling it sulphuretted sulphite
of lime, as it is an atom of sulphur united to sulphite of lime; and
the rather, as it will appear in the sequel that other neutral salts
do combine occasionally with an atom of sulphur. This sulphuretted
sulphite may be boiled down to the sp. gr. 1.1 before it precipitates:
the liquid then contains about 12 per cent. of the salt, or 5 sulphur,
2½ oxygen, and 4½ lime. The salt precipitates from the liquid by
evaporation in the form of a white powder; it burns with a feeble blue
flame, and loses about 20 per cent.; the remainder is sulphite of lime.
When 100 grain measures of the liquid sulphuretted sulphite (1.1) are
saturated with oxymuriate of lime, they acquire 5 grains of oxygen, and
then yield 12½ grains of sulphuric acid (containing 5 sulphur and 7½
oxygen), as may be found by the barytic tests. The point of saturation
is known by the smell of oxymuriatic acid being given out permanently.
If however we oxidize the quadrisulphuret of lime by oxymuriate of
lime, the results are somewhat different. As soon as an atom of the
quadrisulphuret has received two atoms of oxygen it becomes colourless
as before, but ¾ of the sulphur is thrown down instead of ½; and
when more oxymuriate is added, so as to impart 3 atoms of oxygen to
one of the salt, a complete sulphate of lime is formed. The point of
saturation is determined by adding a small portion of muriatic acid to
the liquid, which develops the oxymuriatic acid as soon as it becomes
in excess. This method excels in the analysis of the alkaline and
earthy sulphurets in general.
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