PROOFS OF THE PROPERTIES 0"F IRON.

125

SECT. II.

EXPERIMENTAL PROOFS

OF

THE PROPERTIES OF IRON.

Experiment I.

Iron combines with sulphur by heat.

Mix one part of iron filings with two of sulphur, and fusethe mixture in a covered crucible as quickly as possible. Theproduct will be sulphurct of iron, which is of a black, or verydeep grey colour, brittle, and remarkably hard.

Sulphuret of iron may also be formed by applying a roll ofsulphur to the end of an iron bar brought to a white heat; bothof them will be fused, and the sulphuret will fall down in drops.

When sulphuret of iron is reduced to powder, and moistenedwith water, the sulphur is gradually converted into sulphuricacid by absorbing oxigen, while at the same time the ironbecomes oxidated. (See vol. I. p. 227).

Experiment II.

Iron enters into combination with phosphorus.

Mix equal parts of iron filings, and glacial acid of phosphorus,and fuse the mixture in a covered crucible, with half a part of