372 Dr. Blyth on the Composition of Narcotine. 



by Prof. Liebig and Wohler, I did not enter into its investi- 

 gation. 



I. 0*5755 grm. gave on combustion with peroxide of cop- 

 per carbonic acid 1'208, water = 0*250. 



II, 0*504' grm. gave carbonic acid 1*0495, water = 0*223. 



In 100 parts. 

 I. II. 



Carbon =57*24 56*79 



Hydrogen = 4*82 4*91 



Oxygen =37*94 38*30 



100*00 100*00 



If the atomic weight 2567 given by MM. Liebig and Woh- 

 ler* be taken as approximative, the formula of the crystallized 

 acid will be — 



Calculated. 

 C2o=1500 57*41 



Hg = 112*5 4*36 



Ojo =1000 38*23 



2612*5 100*00 



Prof. Liebig kindly informed me that the formula esta- 

 blished by M. Wohler, who had fully studied this acid, agreed 

 exactly with this. 



Hemipinic Acid, — This acid accompanies opianic acid in all 

 the processes of the oxidation of narcotine. After removal of 

 the latter acid from the mother-liquor, the hemipinic acid is 

 obtained by slow evaporation. The fluid becomes of a dark 

 orange colour, almost approaching to black, and gives off hy- 

 drochloric acid abundantly. If the evaporation has been 

 spontaneous, the hemipinic acid crystallizes in large flat rhom- 

 bohedrons, which on resolution and rapid crystallization as- 

 sume the form of long rhombic prisms. 



The crystals of this acid eflloresce on exposure to the air. 

 It is more soluble in water than opianic acid, the solution 

 having an acid reaction : alcohol and aether dissolve it readily. 



From opianic acid it is distinguished by its forming inso- 

 luble salts with the oxides of lead, silver and peroxide of iron, 

 all the salts of opianic acid being soluble. The hemipinate of 

 the peroxide of iron is of a fine orange colour. 



0*2505 grm. of the hemipinate of silver gave on combustion 

 0*1237 of metallic silver=49*38 per cent., from which the 

 calculated atomic weight is 1285*4. 



0*402 grm. of the same salt gave 3*1975 of metallic silver 

 = 49*12 per cent., corresponding atomic weight= 1299*5. 



0*338 grm. of crystallized hemipinic acid dried at 100° C. 

 gave carbonic acid 0*656, water 0*1395. 



* Traiti, de CMviie Organique, par M. Liebig, t. ii. p. 656. 



