I have repeated most of the experiments on the sulphurization of potash with soda, and have not found anyone remarkable feature of distinction, besides those which arise from the weights of the atoms.
1. Sulphuretted carbonate of soda consists of 1 atom of carbonate of soda united to 1 of sulphur; or of 47 parts of the former and 14 of the latter.
2. Trisulphuret of soda consists of 1 atom soda (28) and 3 of sulphur (42).
3. Quadrisulphuret of soda consists of 1 atom soda (28) and 4 atoms of sulphur (56).
Hydrosulphuret of soda. This compound consists of one atom of each of the elements, or 15 sulphuretted hydrogen, and 28 soda. In other respects it agrees with hydrosulphuret of potash.
12. Sulphuret of ammonia.
The best way which I have found of procuring sulphuret of ammonia, is to treat quadrisulphuret of lime with the carbonate of ammonia as long as any precipitate takes place; the precipitate is sulphuretted carbonate of lime, 3 atoms of sulphur to 1 of carbonate of lime. The liquid is of a pale yellow, and contains ammonia and sulphur united in the ratio of 1 atom (of 6) to 1 of sulphur: it may therefore be denominated the protosulphuret of ammonia.
The carbonate of ammonia is best procured by heating the common subcarbonate of ammonia, first pulverized, in a temperature of 100° for half an hour, or exposing it for a few days to the atmosphere. What remains of the salt is almost without smell; it should consist of 19 parts acid, 6 ammonia, and 8 water nearly: the ammonia is usually however a small degree in excess.
Hydrosulphuret of ammonia. This compound may be formed in the dry state by combining the two gases of sulphuretted hydrogen and ammonia over mercury; it is of a white crystalline appearance, and very soluble in water, and forms a fuming liquor of a very pungent smell. It may also be obtained by passing sulphuretted hydrogen into a vessel containing liquid ammonia. I find about 110 or 120 measures of sulphuretted hydrogen require 100 of ammoniacal gas. Hence it is 1 atom of sulphuretted hydrogen (15), that unites to 1 of ammonia (6).