a well-known substance, which is yellow, taffetel, hard, brittle, and when rubbed becomes electric. Its specific gravity is from 1.9 to 2.35. According to Bergman, it gently evaporates at 170°, melts at 185°, and flames at 302° Fahrenheit. It burns with a blue flame, and a disagreeable suffocating smell; in close vessels it sublimes without decomposition, or only a decomposition proportionable to the quantity of air they contain; when melted it becomes red, but recovers its colour on cooling. It is insoluble in water, though by long trituration it is said water will take up some of it, but it is rather diffused than dissolved in it; neither can spirit of wine unite to it, except when both are in a vaporous state, and then 72 parts of spirit of wine take up 1 part of sulphur; it is soluble in hot oils, and also in fixed alkalis, both in the dry and liquid way; it is decomposed by boiling in concentrated nitrous acid, partly decomposed and partly dissolved by the vitriolic and oxygenated muriatic acid. See CHEMISTRY-Index.
Sulphur was formerly supposed to consist of sulphuric acid and phlogiston, in the proportion of 60 parts of the former to 40 of the latter; but by the new system which is now generally adopted, sulphur is reckoned a simple substance, and the sulphuric acid a compound of sulphur and oxygen or vital air. This conclusion is founded on the following facts: 1. Sulphur does not burn unless vital air has access to it. 2. During combustion it absorbs vital air from the atmosphere. 3. The sulphuric produced by the combustion of sulphur is equal in weight to the sulphur employed and the quantity of air that has been consumed.
Sulphur is found sometimes pure, and sometimes in combination with other substances. Of pure sulphur there are seven varieties. 1. Transparent sulphur, in eight-sided crystals, with two truncated pyramids. It is generally deposited by water on the surface of calcareous spar. Cadiz sulphur is of this kind. 2. Transparent sulphur in irregular fragments. Such is the sulphur of Switzerland. 3. White pulverulent sulphur, deposited in siliceous geodes. In Franche Comté there are flints full of sulphur. 4. Pulverulent sulphur deposited on the surface of mineral waters, such as those of Aix-la-Chapelle. 5. Crystaline sulphur that has been sublimed, found in the neighbourhood of volcanoes. 6. Pulverulent sulphur sublimed from volcanoes, found in abundance at Solfatara in the vicinity of Naples. 7. Sulphur in stalactites, formed by volcanic fires.
Sulphur is also found united with different substances, as with metals, when it is called pyrites; a short account of which may be seen under the article PYRITES. Sometimes it is combined with calcareous earth, as in fetid calcareous stones and lime-stone. It has lately been discovered, that sulphur is formed by a natural process in animals and vegetables beginning to putrefy. It is found on flake-walls and in privies. It is also extracted from vegetables, from dock-root, cochlearia, &c. M. Deyeux obtained it from the white of eggs. It has been also procured from horseradish.
The sulphur used in Great Britain is generally brought in a pure state from volcanic countries, where it abounds in an inexhaustible quantity. It is well known, however, that some of the metallic ores in this country abound with it; but from the common mode of purifying them, the sulphur is dissipated and lost. Dr Watson has shown, in a paper on lead-ore in the Philosophical Transactions, that not less than 700 tons are annually dissipated in the various lead-mines of England.
It is extracted from pyrites in the following manner in Saxony and Bohemia. The pyrites is put in small pieces into earthen tubes: one of the tubes is placed on a furnace, and the other passes into a square vessel of cast iron containing water. The sulphur is disintegrated by the heat from the pyrites, and passes into the vessel; but it is then very impure. It is afterwards melted in an iron ladle, when the earthy and metallic particles are deposited by their weight, and the sulphur being light rises to the top. It is then poured off into a copper boiler, where it is farther purified, and afterwards poured into cylindrical moulds of wood, from which it receives the shape in which it is usually sold.
When melted sulphur is gently heated, it flies off in a yellow powder, which is called flowers of sulphur. The operation is performed in this manner: Common sulphur in powder is put into an earthen cucurbit, to the top of which a number of earthen pots inserted in one another is fixed, known by the name of aludels. The cucurbit is then heated till the sulphur become liquid: it then rises and attaches itself to the sides of the aludels.
Sulphur combined with an alkali is called hepatic sulphur, liver of sulphur, because it resembles in colour the liver of animals. In the French nomenclature it is called sulphure, and by those British chemists who have adopted the new system sulphuret.
Water decomposes the sulphuret. The sulphur is precipitated by acids, when a particular gas is extricated commonly called hepatic gas, or, what is more expressive of its composition, sulphuretted hydrogenous gas. The feter of this gas is insufferable, and is fatal to animals. It communicates a green colour to syrup of violets, and burns with a light-blue flame. It acts on metals and metallic oxides, especially those of lead and bismuth, which it soon blackens. It is decomposed by vital air; and accordingly, when it comes into contact with atmospheric air, a portion of the sulphur is separated. For this reason sulphureous waters do not contain genuine liver of sulphur.
The mineral acids act differently on sulphur. If the sulphuric acid be boiled on sulphur, the acid acquires an amber colour, and a sulphureous smell; the sulphur melts and swims like oil. When cooled, it concretes into globules of a greenish hue; but a small portion of the sulphur is dissolved in the acid, which may be precipitated by an alkali. The flaming red nitrous acid acts powerfully on sulphur. When poured upon melted sulphur, it occasions detonation and inflammation. The common muriatic acid produces no effect upon it; but the oxygenated muriatic acid acts upon it with force.
Sulphur unites readily with all metallic substances, 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 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 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.
It is a curious phenomenon, that nitre mixed with sulphur burns rapidly, even in close vessels; this is easily explained by the new system. Nitre, when heat is applied to it, yields a great quantity of vital air; and sulphur is a combustible body, or, which is the same thing, has a strong attraction for vital air. As vital air is thus supplied, which is the only principle necessary to combustion, communication with the atmospheric air is unnecessary. The sulphur will burn till the whole vital air which the nitre furnishes be consumed. The products obtained by this process are different according to the proportions of nitre and sulphur which are employed. If eight parts of sulphur and one of nitre be set on fire in a close vessel, fulminic acid is produced; and this is the method by which oil of vitriol or strong sulphuric acid was formerly made in Great Britain. The vessels in which the operation was performed were large glass balloons, with very large necks, each containing 400 or 500 pints. But it was attended with great expense, on account of the high price and brittleness of the balloons. A few years ago a cheaper method has been attempted with success in France. The sulphur is burned on a kind of grid-irons, in large apartments lined with lead. As the acid condenses it is conveyed by gutters into a reservoir, and afterwards concentrated. It must be observed, that the sulphuric acid thus obtained is always combined with a little sulphur and sulphate of potash, a small quantity of aluminous sulphate and sulphate of lead; but these substances are in so small a proportion, that for common use it is not necessary to separate them. If necessary, however, it may easily be done by distilling the acid to dryness.
Gunpowder, the terrible effects of which are owing to its strong tendency to combustion, is a mixture of sulphur, nitre, and charcoal. (See Gunpowder.) But there is another mixture of which sulphur is an ingredient still more violent in its effects: This is called fulminating powder, and is composed of three parts of nitre, two parts of the carbonate of potash, and one of powdered sulphur. These being closely united together by trituration in a hot marble mortar, when exposed to a slight degree of heat, will melt, and produce a violent detonation like the report of a cannon. A dram of this mixture is sufficient for the experiment.
Sulphur is of great use in chemistry, in medicine, and the arts. Sulphur is useful in making some solutions, precipitations, and separations of metals and minerals; but is particularly useful, as being the substance from which the sulphuric acid is obtained. Hepar sulphuris is employed in chemistry for making several solutions.
Sulphur is employed in medicine both internally and externally. It is given either in flowers or in lozenges, made up with sugar, or joined to magnesia, crystals of tartar, manna, caffia, lenitive electuary, &c. Two or three drams generally prove laxative; and it is given in such doses in cases of piles, of uterine, and other hemorrhages; because it does not stimulate nor heat during its operation, nor leave a disposition to colic, as rhubarb, aloes, and other hot resinous purges do. Sulphur was formerly much recommended in coughs and diseases of the breast, but of late its virtues as a pectoral have been much doubted. When applied externally, it is mixed with some unctuous substance, as hogs lard, butter, &c. and is rubbed on such parts of the body as are affected with eruptions.
Some physicians and chemists, considering that sulphur is insoluble in water, and capable of resisting the action of most menstrua, have affirmed, that it can produce no effect when taken internally, fingle and unaltered; but this assertion seems to be without foundation; for it is certain, that the sweat and perspiration of those who take sulphur internally have a foul 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 perishable 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 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 gunpowder and fireworks 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.
Sulphur-Wort, in botany. See Prucedanum.