IDENTIFICATION OF AMBERGRIS 
By Howarp Irvine Coe 
Chemist, Bureau of Science, Manila 
Ambergris, a biliary concretion from the intestines of the 
spermaceti whale (Physetes macrocephales), is found sometimes 
in the mammal itself but more often floating upon the sea or 
in the sand on the seacoast. It occurs in lumps varying from a 
few ounces to 200 pounds. The substance is of a solid waxy 
nature, mottled dull gray to black, and possesses a peculiar 
earthy odor. It adheres like wax to the edge of a knife with 
which it is scraped, retains the impression of the nails, and 
emits a fat, odoriferous liquid on being penetrated with a hot 
needle. The specific gravity of ambergris varies from 0.780 
to 0.926. It is said to melt at 62°C. It is soluble in ether and 
in the volatile and fixed oils. 
The composition of ambergris was investigated by Pelletier 
and Caventou in 1820. They found that the principal constit- 
uent was a substance to which they gave the name ambraine 
or ambrein. The analytical values of ambrein were not pub- 
lished by Pelletier until 1832 when they were given as follows: 
Carbon, 81.74 per cent; hydrogen, 13.32 per cent; oxygen, 4.94 
per cent. 
In 1912 Joseph Riban ' investigated ambrein more closely. He 
had come into possession of a small quantity of ambrein which 
in the course of time had separated out from the alcoholic liquid 
in a bottle intended for extract of ambergris. The substance, 
after being recrystallized from alcohol, melted at between 82° 
and 86°C. It is a white crystalline solid separating from its 
alcoholic solution in slender needles. Combustion showed it to 
possess the formula C,,H,,O. The compound tends to remain 
in the superfused state when melted, even if sown with crystals. 
When warm and dry it becomes highly electrified on slight rub- 
bing. It is not optically active, has a neutral reaction, and is 
insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents. When 
*Compt. Rend. 154 (1912) 1729-1732; Bull. Soc. Chim. IV 11 (1912) 
754—757. 108 
