Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 217 



lodate of Brucia. — Iodic acid combines directly with brucia; if the 

 acid be in excess a red colour appears, but otherwise it is colourless. 

 By evaporating the solution two salts are obtained : one, which is 

 opaque and silky, with excess of base, and which restores the colour 

 of litmus reddened by an acid ; the other is transparent, hard, and 

 in four-sided prisms, this reddens litmus paper. The subsalt has such 

 a disposition to form that it may frequently be obtained in crystals, 

 even from a solution which is slightly acid. 



Hydriodate of Brucia. — This salt may be obtained by directly 

 treating brucia with hydriodic acid ; it has a different appearance 

 from hydriodate of strychnia, the crystals are transparent square la- 

 minae or short four-sided prisms. Though slightly soluble in cold 

 water, it is more so than hydriodate of strychnia; hot water dissolves 

 more than cold, and crystals are obtained on cooling. It is more 

 soluble in alcohol than in water. Hydriodate of brucia may be pre- 

 pared by double decomposition by adding hydriodate of potash to 

 sulphate of brucia. It is a subsesquihydriodate, composed of 



One equivalent of hydriodic acid .... 127 or 23*47 

 One and a half equivalent of brucia . . 4-14 „ 76*53 



54-1 100- 



The phenomena which have been noticed when treating of hy- 

 driodate of strychnia with respect to the action of iodic acid or of an 

 acid poured into a mixture of iodate and hydriodate, also take place 

 when hydriodate of brucia is similarly treated. 



Iodine and Cinchonia. — To obtain iodide of cinchonia the alkali 

 must be triturated with about half its weight of iodine and treated 

 with alcohol ; the whole dissolves, and by spontaneous evaporation 

 iodide of cinchonia is obtained in plates of a saffron colour ; the 

 iodide separates before all the spirit evaporates ; towards the end 

 of the operation, crystals of hydriodate of cinchonia are deposited in 

 the form of mushrooms. On treating the whole with boiling water 

 the hydriodate dissolves and fused iodide remains. 



In mass the iodide of cinchonia is of a very deep saffron colour ; 

 in powder its colour is lighter, its taste is slightly bitter. When 

 heated to 77° Fahr. it softens, but does not fuse below 176°. It is 

 insoluble in cold water, and very slightly dissolved by it when boil- 

 ing. It dissolves in alcohol and in aether. It is decomposed by the 

 alternate action of acid and alkaline solutions. 



It is a di-iodide, composed of 



One equivalent of iodine 126 or 29 



Two equivalents of cinchonia 308 „ 71 



4-^4- 100 



Iodate of Cinchonia. — This salt has been described and analysed 

 by Serullas. M. Pelletier observes that he has only to add to his 

 account of it that it is very soluble in water, which is remarkable in 

 a salt that is insoluble in alcohol. 



Third Series. Vol. 11. No. 66. Aug. 1837. 2 F 



