SULPHUR, an inflammable substance of a yellow colour, consisting of the vitriolic acid and principle of inflammability united. For its properties, See CHEMISTRY, n° 50, 114, 122, 165, 321, 334, 469.
Sulphur is found naturally formed in vast quantity about volcanoes, and in some kinds of minerals. It is extracted from its ores either by melting or subliming. What we use is all brought from other countries; but it is certain that the metallic ores in this country contain a very considerable quantity of sulphur, which, in the common way of working, is dissipated in the air. Dr Watson has shown, in a paper on lead-ore, in the Philosophical Transactions, that the quantity thus dissipated amounts to not less than 700 tons annually in the various lead-mines in England. Volcanoes, earthquakes, &c. have been thought to take their rise from large beds of sulphur supposed to lie underground; but it is much more probable that sulphur is the effect rather than the cause of these phenomena. See VOLCANO.
Sulphur unites easily with all metallic matters, excepting gold, platina, and zinc; at least we have not found the means of uniting it with these, directly, and without some intermediate substance. The degrees of affinity with which sulphur combines with those metals to which it may be readily united, are different; for it not only unites more easily and abundantly with some than with others, but it also quits those with which it has a less affinity, to unite with others to which it has a stronger affinity.
The affinities of sulphur, according to Mr Geoffroy's table, are, fixed alkali, iron, copper, lead, silver, regulus of antimony, mercury, and gold; and, according to Mr Gellert's table, they are, iron, copper, tin, lead, silver, bismuth, regulus of antimony, mercury, arsenic, and cobalt: gold and zinc are marked in this table as being incapable of uniting with sulphur.
The compounds formed by sulphur with different metals, are different; but all of them possess a metallic lustre, without any ductility: these combinations of sulphur and of metals are very frequently found in a natural state. Almost all the metals which we dig from the earth are naturally found combined with sulphur, forming most of the ores and metallic minerals.
The properties of the combinations of sulphur with metallic matters have been little examined, because these combinations are not of any use; but, on the contrary, when they are found, they must be decomposed, that the metals may be obtained separately from the sulphur. Nevertheless, we know, not only that metals have different degrees of affinity with sulphur; in consequence of which property, sulphur may be, and actually is, in many metallurgical operations, separated from some metals by means of
others to which it is more disposed to unite; but we also know that sulphur facilitates the fusion of hard and difficultly fusible metals, such as copper and iron; and that, on the contrary, it renders the soft and fusible metals, as tin and lead, less easily fusible. These singular effects seem to proceed from the difference of the affinity of sulphur to the several metals.
Sulphur may be separated from metallic matters by several methods. First, as sulphur is volatile, and as these metallic matters are fixed, or at least less volatile than sulphur, the mere action of fire is sufficient to separate sulphur from most metals. As this method is simple, and not expensive, it is generally employed to separate sulphur from ores; which effect is produced by the torrefaction or roasting of these ores. We must, however, except the ore of mercury, or native cinnabar, and also the combinations of arsenic with sulphur, which cannot be decomposed without an intermediate substance, from the great volatility of mercury and of arsenic: although perhaps it would not be impossible to separate the sulphur from these compounds, without an intermediate substance, by a heat carefully applied, long continued, and with access of air.
Secondly, several combinations of sulphur with metals may be decomposed by means of acids; which dissolve the metallic matter, without attacking the sulphur. But in several of these compounds, the sulphur defends the metal from the action of the acids; and this separation by acids does frequently not succeed, or succeeds only imperfectly. Crude antimony is one of the sulphurated metallic substances from which sulphur may most easily be separated by means of aqua regia. This menstruum seizes readily the regulus of antimony contained in mineral antimony, and separates from it the sulphur, which then appears in form of a white powder.
Lastly, we may, as we have already said, separate several metals from sulphur by means of other metals, to which the sulphur has a greater affinity. This separation is practised in several operations, as in the dry parting, the purification of gold by antimony, the decomposition of cinnabar, of orpiment, and of crude antimony.
The uses of sulphur are considerably extensive in chemistry, in medicine, and in arts. The liver of sulphur is employed in chemistry for several solutions. Sulphur is also useful for several fusions, precipitations, and separations of metals and minerals, as we have already mentioned. Lastly, as sulphur contains a very large quantity of vitriolic acid, a method has been found, and is now practised, of extracting from it this acid, by burning sulphur in close vessels, with the addition of some nitre, and by an operation similar to that of the clyssus.
Sulphur is employed in medicine, both internally and externally, for asthmatic diseases of the breast, and for several diseases of the skin of the nature of the itch. The internal preparations of sulphur are, flowers of sulphur, washed sulphur, magistery of sulphur, tablets, balsams, livers of sulphur, and others; in some of which this substance is not altered, but only purified and divided; and in others, is combined and associated with other substances; without reckoning the sulphureous combinations of antimony and of mercury.
Some physicians and chemists, considering that sul-
phur is unsoluble in water, and capable of resisting the action of most menstrua, have advanced, that it can produce no effect when taken internally, single and unaltered: but this assertion seems to be without foundation; for we are certain that the sweat and perspiration of those who take sulphur internally, have a smell evidently sulphureous. Besides, sulphur is much more soluble than is generally believed. It is attacked by all oily and saponaceous substances, and consequently by almost all animal liquors.
We cannot easily form a very distinct and clear idea of the manner in which sulphur acts internally upon our bodies; but, from observations made upon its effects, it appears to be dividing, stimulating, and somewhat heating: it principally acts upon the perspirable parts of the body, the chief of which are the skin and lungs; and from this property it is particularly useful in some diseases of these parts.
Sulphur is also a powerful repellent; as appears from its curing several kinds of itch, merely by external application in form of ointments and pomatums.
Several mineral waters, which are drank or used as baths for some diseases, owe their good qualities to sulphur contained in them.
Sulphur is also used in several arts. By means of it fine impressions of engraved stones are taken. Matches are formed of it; and its utility as an ingredient in the preparation of gun-powder and fire-works is well known. Lastly, it is used for whitening wool, silk, and many other matters exposed to its vapour during its combustion; the colours and redness of which could not be destroyed by any other substance, but are quickly effaced by this acid vapour.