*sulphur*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Desulphurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desulphurating. ] To deprive of sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. désulfuration. ] The act or process of depriving of sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To desulphurate; to deprive of sulphur. -- De*sul`phur*i*za"tion n. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Pref. deuto- + sulphuret. ] (Chem.) A disulphide. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. di- + sulphuret. ] (Chem.) See Disulphide. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. di- + sulphuric. ] (Chem.) Applied to an acid having in each molecule two atoms of sulphur in the higher state of oxidation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Disulphuric acid, a thick oily liquid, H2S2O7, called also Nordhausen acid (from Nordhausen in the Harts, where it was originally manufactured), fuming sulphuric acid, and especially pyrosulphuric acid. See under Pyrosulphuric. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, ethyl and sulphuric acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ethylsulphuric acid (Chem.), an acid sulphate of ethyl, H.C2H5.SO4, produced as a thick liquid by the action of sulphiric acid on alcohol. It appears to be the active catalytic agent in the process of etherification. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A hydrosulphide. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Combined with hydrogen sulphide. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Hydro-, 2 + sulphuric. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, hydrogen and sulphur; as, hydrosulphuric acid, a designation applied to the solution of hydrogen sulphide in water. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained by the reduction of sulphurous acid. See Hyposulphurous acid, under Hyposulphurous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. hypo- + sulphuric. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, sulphur in a lower state of oxidation than in the sulphuric compounds; as, hyposulphuric acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hyposulphuric acid, an acid, H2S2O6, obtained by the action of manganese dioxide on sulphur dioxide, and known only in a watery solution and in its salts; -- called also dithionic acid. See Dithionic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. hypo- + sulphurous. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, sulphur, all, or a part, in a low state of oxidation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hyposulphurous acid. (a) Thiosulphuric acid. [ Obs. ] (b) An acid, H2SO2, obtained by the reduction of sulphurous acid. It is not obtained in the free state, but in an orange-yellow water solution, which is a strong reducing and bleaching agent. Called also hydrosulphurous acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Mono- + sulphuret. ] (Chem.) See Monosulphide. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) An oxysulphide. [ Obsolescent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A persulphide. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A polysulphide. [ Obsoles. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Proto- + sulphuret. ] (Chem.) A protosulphide. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pyro- + -sulphuric. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid called also disulphuric acid) obtained by distillation of certain sulphates, as a colorless, thick, oily liquid, H2S2O7 resembling sulphuric acid. It is used in the solution of indigo, in the manufacture of alizarin, and in dehydration. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of yellow or orange butterflies of the subfamily Pierinae; as, the clouded sulphur (Eurymus philodice syn. Colias philodice), which is the common yellow butterfly of the Eastern United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. (Zool.) See Sulphur-bottom. --
Vegetable sulphur (Bot.), lycopodium powder. See under Lycopodium. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. sulphuratus, sulfuratus. ] Sulphureous. [ Poetic & R. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sulphurated p. pr. & vb. n. Sulphurating. ] (Chem.) To sulphurize. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A very large whalebone whale of the genus Sibbaldius, having a yellowish belly; especially, Sibbaldius sulfureus of the North Pacific, and Sibbaldius borealis of the North Atlantic; -- called also sulphur whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being sulphureous. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. sulphureus, sulfureus. ] Consisting of sulphur; having the qualities of sulphur, or brimstone; impregnated with sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her snakes united, sulphureous waters drink. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Sul*phu"re*ous*ly, adv. -- Sul*phu"re*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A sulphide; as, a sulphuret of potassium. [ Obsoles. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with sulphur; sulphurized. [ Written also sulphuretted. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sulphureted hydrogen. (Chem.) See Hydrogen sulphide, under Hydrogen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. sulfurique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 anaesthetic ether; -- so called because made by the catalytic action of sulphuric acid on alcohol. See Ether, 3 (a). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Sulphureous. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Exposure to the fumes of burning sulphur, as in bleaching; the process of bleaching by exposure to the fumes of sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Chem.) To combine or impregnate with sulphur or any of its compounds; as, to sulphurize caoutchouc in vulcanizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. sulphurosus, sulfurosus: cf. F. sulfureux. ] 1. Of or pertaining to sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) (a) Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a lower valence as contrasted with the sulphuric compounds. (b) Having the characteristic odor of sulphur dioxide, or of hydrogen sulphide, or of other sulphur compounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sulphurous acid. (a) Sulphur dioxide. See under Sulphur. [ Obs. ] (b) An acid, H2SO3, not known in the free state except as a solution of sulphur dioxide in water, but forming a well-known series of salts (the sulphites). --
Sulphurous anhydride (Chem.), sulphur dioxide. See under Sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The hog's fennel. See under Fennel. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling, or partaking of the nature of, sulphur; having the qualities of sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sulphur + -yl. ] (Chem.) The hypothetical radical SO2; -- called also sulphon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sulphuryl chloride, a chloride, pungent, fuming liquid, SO2.Cl2, obtained by the action of phosphorus pentachloride on sulphur trioxide. On treatment with water it decomposes into sulphuric and hydrochloric acids, and is hence called also sulphuric chloranhydride. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Supersulphurized. [ Obs. ] [ Written also -sulphuretted. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Chem.) To impregnate or combine with an excess of sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. ter- + sulphuret. ] (Chem.) A trisulphide. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]