Sul"pho*nal (?), n. (Med.) A substance employed as a hypnotic, produced
by the union of mercaptan and acetone.
Sul"pho*nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of sulphonic acid.
Sul"phone (?), n. (Chem.) Any one of a series of compounds analogous to
the ketones, and consisting of the sulphuryl group united with two
hydrocarbon radicals; as, dimethyl sulphone, (CH&?;)&?;.SO&?;.
Sul*phon"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, a sulphone;
-- used specifically to designate any one of a series of acids
(regarded as acid ethereal salts of sulphurous acid) obtained by the
oxidation of the mercaptans, or by treating sulphuric acid with certain
aromatic bases (as benzene); as, phenyl sulphonic acid, C6H5.SO2.OH, a
stable colorless crystalline substance.
Sulphonic group (Chem.), the hypothetical radical, SO2.OH, the
characteristic residue of sulphonic acids.
Sul*pho"ni*um (?), n. [Sulphur + ammonium.] (Chem.) A hypothetical
radical, SH3, regarded as the type and nucleus of the sulphines.
Sul`pho*phos"phate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of sulphophosphoric acid.
Sul`pho*phos"phite (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of sulphophosphorous acid.
Sul`pho*phos*phor"ic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or designating, a
hypothetical sulphacid of phosphorus, analogous to phosphoric acid, and
known in its salts.
Sul`pho*phos"phor*ous (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
designating, a hypothetical acid of phosphorus, analogous to
phosphorous acid, and known in its salts.
Sul"pho*salt` (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of a sulphacid.
Sul`pho*stan"nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of sulphostannic acid.
Sul`pho*stan"nic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a
sulphacid of tin (more exactly called metasulphostannic acid), which is
obtained as a dark brown amorphous substance, H&?;SnS&?;, forming a
well-known series of salts.
Sul`pho*tung"state (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of sulphotungstic acid.
Sul`pho*tung"stic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating,
hypothetical sulphacid of tungsten (called also sulphowolframic acid),
analogous to sulphuric acid, and known in its salts.
Sul`pho*vin"ic (?), a. [Sulpho- + vinum wine: cf. F. sulfovinique.]
(Chem.) Of, pertaining to, and formerly designating, ethylsulphuric
acid.
Sul"phur (?), n. [L., better sulfur: cf. F. soufre.] 1. (Chem.) A
nonmetallic element occurring naturally in large quantities, either
combined as in the sulphides (as pyrites) and sulphates (as gypsum), or
native in volcanic regions, in vast beds mixed with gypsum and various
earthy materials, from which it is melted out. Symbol S. Atomic weight
32. The specific gravity of ordinary octohedral sulphur is 2.05; of
prismatic sulphur, 1.96.
It is purified by distillation, and is obtained as a lemon- yellow
powder (by sublimation), called flour, or flowers, of sulphur, or in
cast sticks called roll sulphur, or brimstone. It burns with a blue
flame and a peculiar suffocating odor. It is an ingredient of
gunpowder, is used on friction matches, and in medicine (as a laxative
and insecticide), but its chief use is in the manufacture of sulphuric
acid. Sulphur can be obtained in two crystalline modifications, in
orthorhombic octahedra, or in monoclinic prisms, the former of which is
the more stable at ordinary temperatures. Sulphur is the type, in its
chemical relations, of a group of elements, including selenium and
tellurium, called collectively the sulphur group, or family. In many
respects sulphur resembles oxygen.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of yellow or orange butterflies
of the subfamily Pierinæ; as, the clouded sulphur (Eurymus, or Colias,
philodice), which is the common yellow butterfly of the Eastern United
States.
Amorphous sulphur (Chem.), an elastic variety of sulphur of a resinous
appearance, obtained by pouring melted sulphur into water. On standing,
it passes back into a brittle crystalline modification. -- Liver of
sulphur. (Old Chem.) See Hepar. -- Sulphur acid. (Chem.) See Sulphacid.
-- Sulphur alcohol. (Chem.) See Mercaptan. -- Sulphur auratum [L.] (Old
Chem.), a golden yellow powder, consisting of antimonic sulphide,
Sb2S5, -- formerly a famous nostrum. -- Sulphur base (Chem.), an
alkaline sulphide capable of acting as a base in the formation of
sulphur salts according to the old dual theory of salts. [Archaic] --
Sulphur dioxide (Chem.), a colorless gas, SO2, of a pungent,
suffocating odor, produced by the burning of sulphur. It is employed
chiefly in the production of sulphuric acid, and as a reagent in
bleaching; -- called also sulphurous anhydride, and formerly sulphurous
acid. -- Sulphur ether (Chem.), a sulphide of hydrocarbon radicals,
formed like the ordinary ethers, which are oxides, but with sulphur in
the place of oxygen. -- Sulphur salt (Chem.), a salt of a sulphacid; a
sulphosalt. -- Sulphur showers, showers of yellow pollen, resembling
sulphur in appearance, often carried from pine forests by the wind to a
great distance. -- Sulphur trioxide (Chem.), a white crystalline solid,
SO3, obtained by oxidation of sulphur dioxide. It dissolves in water
with a hissing noise and the production of heat, forming sulphuric
acid, and is employed as a dehydrating agent. Called also sulphuric
anhydride, and formerly sulphuric acid. -- Sulphur whale. (Zoöl.) See
Sulphur- bottom. -- Vegetable sulphur (Bot.), lycopodium powder. See
under Lycopodium.
Sul"phu*rate (?), a. [L. sulphuratus, sulfuratus.] Sulphureous. [Poetic
& R.] Dr. H. More.
Sul"phu*rate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sulphurated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Sulphurating.] (Chem.) To sulphurize. [Archaic]
Sul`phu*ra"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. sulfuration, L. sulphuratio,
sulfuratio, a vein of sulphur.] The act or process of combining or
impregnating with sulphur or its compounds; also, the state of being so
combined or impregnated.
Sul"phu*ra`tor (?), n. An apparatus for impregnating with, or exposing
to the action of, sulphur; especially, an apparatus for fumigating or
bleaching by means of the fumes of burning sulphur.
Sul`phur-bot"tom (?), n. (Zoöl.) A very large whalebone whale of the
genus Sibbaldius, having a yellowish belly; especially, S. sulfureus of
the North Pacific, and S. borealis of the North Atlantic; -- called
also sulphur whale.
Sul`phu*re"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being sulphureous.
[Obs.] B. Jonson.
Sul*phu"re*ous (?), a. [L. sulphureus, sulfureus.] Consisting of
sulphur; having the qualities of sulphur, or brimstone; impregnated
with sulphur.
Her snakes united, sulphureous waters drink.
Pope.
-- Sul*phu"re*ous*ly, adv. -- Sul*phu"re*ous*ness, n.
Sul"phu*ret (?), n. (Chem.) A sulphide; as, a sulphuret of potassium.
[Obsoles.]
Sul"phu*ret`ed, a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with sulphur;
sulphurized. [Written also sulphuretted.]
Sulphureted hydrogen. (Chem.) See Hydrogen sulphide, under Hydrogen.
Sul*phu"ric (?), a. [Cf. F. sulfurique.] 1. Of or pertaining to
sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell.
2. (Chem.) Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically,
designating those compounds in which the element has a higher valence
as contrasted with the sulphurous compounds; as, sulphuric acid.
Sulphuric acid. (a) Sulphur trioxide (see under Sulphur); -- formerly
so called on the dualistic theory of salts. [Obs.] (b) A heavy,
corrosive, oily liquid, H2SO4, colorless when pure, but usually
yellowish or brownish, produced by the combined action of sulphur
dioxide, oxygen (from the air), steam, and nitric fumes. It attacks and
dissolves many metals and other intractable substances, sets free most
acids from their salts, and is used in the manufacture of hydrochloric
and nitric acids, of soda, of bleaching powders, etc. It is also
powerful dehydrating agent, having a strong affinity for water, and
eating and corroding paper, wood, clothing, etc. It is thus used in the
manufacture of ether, of imitation parchment, and of nitroglycerin. It
is also used in etching iron, in removing iron scale from forgings, in
petroleum refining, etc., and in general its manufacture is the most
important and fundamental of all the chemical industries. Formerly
called vitriolic acid, and now popularly vitriol, and oil of vitriol.
-- Fuming sulphuric acid, or Nordhausen sulphuric acid. See Disulphuric
acid, under Disulphuric. -- Sulphuric anhydride, sulphur trioxide. See
under Sulphur. -- Sulphuric ether, common anæsthetic ether; -- so
called because made by the catalytic action of sulphuric acid on
alcohol. See Ether, 3 (a).