What causes the suffocating odor of a lighted brimstone match?
The sulphurous acid generated by the combustion of the sulphur.
What is sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol?
It is a compound of sulphur and oxygen, containing one-third more oxygen than sulphurous acid.
What is sulphuretted hydrogen?
A gas formed by the union of sulphur and hydrogen. It possesses an offensive odor, and is very poisonous.
How is sulphuretted hydrogen formed in nature?
Principally from the decomposition of animal substances, as blood, flesh, hair, etc.
Why does the yolk of an egg tarnish a silver spoon?
Because it contains a little sulphur, which, at the temperature of an egg just boiled, will decompose the water or moisture upon the spoon, and produce sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which will tarnish silver.