SULPHUR

Brimstone. A yellow brittle mineral pro duct, found in various parts of the world; but apparently most abundant in volcanic regions. Europe is rhii'th sup plied with it from the south of Italy and from Sicily. It most commonly occurs ma ive; but it is sometimes met with crystallized in the form of an oblique rhombic octoedron. Pine specimens of this description are seen in our mineral cabinets, and bear a high price. A considerable quantity of sulphur is also obtained from sonic of its metallic combinations, such as the sulphurets of copper and of iron. These ores are boated, or roasted, as it is teemed, in furnaces so eoastraeted that the sulphur vapour may bs condensed, and from time to time collected; this, when purified hv fusion, is cast into moulds, and forms common or roil brimstone. Small quantities of sulphur also occur In several animal ami vegetable products, and are frequently recognised by the odour of sulphuretted hydrogen which they evolve during putrefaction. Sulphur is a non-conductor of electricity. insipiiT, and inodorous, unle ml. hid or heated, when it evolves a sulphurous smell. Its specific gravity is 1-99. It melts at about 216°; and when heated to about 2.">0o it becomes a limpid, amber-coloured liquid; if the heat be raised to about 450°, it "gain Incomes Viscid and deeper coloured; at 480° up to its boiling point it acquires rather more fluidity; at about 600° it rises rapidly in vapour, and in close ve els condenses in the form of a line yellow powder, composed of crystalline grains: in this state it is called flowers of sulphur. The earthy and metallic impurities which, with a portion of sulphur, remain in the subliming ve el, were formerly called sulphur vicum. When sulphur in its viscid state of fusion is poured into water it becomes a ductile ma , which slowly hardens. and which Is often used for taking impre ions of seals and medals. When sulphur is in the form of vapour it is of a dense oranae colour: its specific gravity in that state is about 6-6 and 100 cubic inches of It should therefore weigh about 206 grains. There is another form of sulphur which is sometimes called milk of sulphur (lac sulphur is), and which is a hydrate of sulphur; it is obtained by precipitating sulphur by muriatic acid from certain of its alkaline solutions. When sulphur which has been melted is suffered to cool slowly, its interior often exhibits prismatic crystals, and very beautiful specimens of this artificial crystallization of sulphur may be obtained by melting a few pounds of it in a crucible or ladle, and when partially cooled piercing the outer crust and inverting the ve el, so that the interior liquid part may run out; on breaking the ma when cold, the cavity will be found lined with prismatic crystals. The results of the combustion of sulphur, its equivalent number (16), and several other details respecting its combinations and uses, are given under the heads of SulphuAcids. retted Hydrooen, and of Sulphuric and Sulphurous Sulphur is insoluble in water; it di olves in boiling oil of turpentine,tion cools. It and is also is deposited soluble in often alcohol,in crystals if both as substances the solube brought together in the state of vapour. It combines also with chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Its native combinations with the metals form some of the most important ores. It is from the sulphurets of lead and of copper that the commercial demands for these valuable metals are al most exclusively6supplied. 1199 Sulphur is of great importance in the arts. It is used ei [s. 1213]