Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-09

are then securely luted together The fire is
now increased and urged on briskly for thir-
ty-sx hours. hy this means the strong sui
phurc acid is expelled in the form of heavy
white vapors, which condense in the cold re-
ceiver into an oily luuking liquid. About
6 lis. Of acid are generally obtained from
600 lbs Of copperas or sulphate Of iron.-
This acid is known in common 10y the name
of German or Nordhausen sulphuric acid
IL is composed Of two atoms of dry sulphurlc
acid united with one Of water, and from 1t
may be prepared the dry or anhybrous acid,
by careful distilation from a ret0rt into
dry and cold receiver. This dry acid is a
soft solid consisting of silky fiiaments, like
isl-estos. tough and difficult to cut and is
also a powerful cauterizer, burning holes in
paper as rapidly az a red hot iron.
The production sulphuric acid from sui
phur and nitre is conducted nearly as follows:
the mixture Of phur and nitre il burned in
a furnace 81 placed that the resulting fumes
may pass into a capacions leaden chamher,
(freumentlv 200 feet long 80 tn 40 feet wide,
and about 90 feet high.) the floor of which is
covered with water, IT, the depth of from to
q inches and into which steam is also gener-
ally introduced. The water at the bottom Of
the chamber gradually becomes more and
mtre sour. and is in fact dilute sulphuric
acid. which when it has thus acquired the
sparifc gravity of 8, it is draw1 off into
shallow leaden boilers or pans, where the
acid is allowed tn evaporate until it acquires
the density nf | 55. 1t is then transferred to
leaden coulcrs or refrigerators, and from
theme introduced into glass or platurium
retorts, where the further boiling down of
the acid is continued until it attains the spe-
ciic gravity of 81. When glass retorts arc
used they are set in n long sand-hath oven,
furnace resting on fire tiles. When platinum
stills are employed, these are fitted into the
inside Of cast iron pots " hich protects the bot
tom and sides Of the precinus uetal. These
stills frequently cost as high as $50 900. but
since their introduction in this manufacture,
sulphuric acid has fallen from to about 2c.
per ~. The manufacture OF sulphurc acid
is carried on more extensively IN Great Brit |
ian than in any other country, the quantity
produced p~nlahly not falling far short OF
$50 600 600 lbs. the value nf which is about
41 millions Of dollars. Though it is common
w called sulphuric acid, or oil Of vitriol, this
acid is IL definite combination Of anhy drous
or dry sulphnric acid and water, its compo-
sition heing | atom Of anhydruus acid added
Ia atom of water From its composition,
we therefore call it monohydrated sulphuric
acid 1t is a limpd, inodorous. colorless
t fluid. powerfully corrosive, OF an oily consls-
tence, and when pure and we'll prepared,
ought to have specific gravity Of / "a, when
denser than this it may be inferred that it
2 is adulteratcd with alkaline salts, and when
\ If less gravity that its evaporation has not
/. ''~c', e.'.'t tinl+ad long enough. This acid
. owing tn its eminently corrosive pr"partics
}. is fearful poison, If ifswailowed in its strong
r est state, even in II small quantity 1t acts so
). furionsy on the throat ard stomach, as to
,rt L. "A oHu
r Water dilutents mixed with chalk or magne-
e sa are the r"aIi"st antdotes. At the tenn
j. perature uf 600o F, or few degrees under
4, the melting point of lead, il hOils and distls
v over like water, and this is the best method
,e for obtaining pure acid from the commercial
II article which is often contaminated with sa
ht line and metallic matters. Sulphuric acid
d. has a strong affinity for water, and for this
III reason it should be kept excluded from tht
r. air. A very singular experiment may h'
Ir performed with the strong acid iffOur parts
I'd by weight Of this he suddenly mixed will
ID Que part of water, the temperature of th
he mixture will rise to 300o, while on the othe
of hand, it four parts Of ice be mixed with 4a
of sulphuric acid, they Immediately lgnif,
ar and sink the thermometer to a below Zero
ic Having now studied the characteristics an
at general properties Of sulphuric acid, let u
IL for a few moments revert to the theory OF 1t
n formation. The sulphur by burning in con
ng tact with atmospheric air, forms Sulphurou
.l- acid [ the composition Of which is of So
in phur united with Of oxygen, the nitre
.st at the same time ,rned, and yields nitrou
nv acid. These vapors (.e. sulphurous an
M nitrous acids, when perfectly dry, do not az
US upon each other, hut moisture being preser
n in the condensing chambers, they form
hy white solid, which Is Instantly decompose
nf hv the con,nct of water; the result of this d.
ul. cnn pnsjtiun is sulphurc acid, and nitric o!
ms iap the nitrous acid having given up on
,es part of it's oxygen to- the snlphurous acl'
me which now becomes ! atom of Su phur unite
1t with nf oxygen. forming sulphuric aci'
his Batve can not stop here. there is still anotl
r "A or change let us look back To the article G
the nitrogen with oxygen, and we will find
ug there. stated, that nitric oxide has stron
of affinity for oxygen gas This. therefore,
cid the action of the oxygen Of the air, affnrt
on nitrous acid which again gives up l atom
tin its oxygen to the uncomhined ulphurol
sed acid, converting that into sulphuric acid
'en- The nitrous acid again becomes nitric oxi
, in which in its turn al'sorbs oxygen, forms t
sui air and gives this oxygen ur to the sulphr
lrd. ous acid which has not yet received enOui
ish- Of oxygen to- convert it into sulphuric aci
ters Ir sulphur could be made to take up ator
hoes of oxygen instead If 2 only, by mere bur
Illy ing, nitre would not be used ut all, but 81
use, phurous acid is unable oft own account,
sui absorb mora oxygen from the air, and che
tor lists are ther, fore obliged to give it serva
'ous ty tile assistance uf which it may absorb I
leo necessary atom that servant is nitrous ac
81, This action may well he lkencd to Il G
gas riage. Which is employed in carrying a la
both from one place tn another, and returni
the empty. TIE nitrous acid is the carriage
% in gives up its load of oxygen t0 the sulph
lsts. ous acid and returns for a fresh suppl
,om- again it gives up this supply. and so it G
tinueS until there are more sui phurt
uric mcd fumes in the chamber. | have oc
Ill of pied too much time on this subject, but i
It Of one Of the most complicated Of chemical
OBJ composition. Sulphuric acid has lately b
irun, found native by Professor Baldassari. in
tie cavities uf volcanic hill, called Zoccoh
wing near Sicuna. We pass on now to the c
w of Sideraiion Of sulphur with chlorine. Th
yclu. com pounds are only interesting to the SCI
Brit tifc chemist, and shall just name them
phur passing they are the chloride OF suip
the first described by DR.. Thompson, in lSO-
, for The dichloride of sulphur and the ammo
vi in chloride Of sulphur. The compounds OF
and phur with brumIne, iodine, and howrlne,
III. If very little Importance. We now com
hori- ths consideration Of sulphur with hydroj
? re This compound is called su pbureted by
fttrd zen =, or according to the ncmpnclatur
Z Et,} he lic> err III, su'rENlr;c acid This