396 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



flocculi, which appear to be amorphous, but when examined by a strong 

 magnifier they are seen to be composed of small four-sided and long 

 fibrous crystals. Opianic acid acts in the same way with alcohol ; 

 and in this state it is insoluble in hot ammonia, and also in a solu- 

 tion of potash, unless long boiled in it. 



It was found by analysis that the fused insoluble acid had the same 

 composition as the soluble crystallized acid. The composition is 

 stated by the author to be 



Carbon 57-84 or C"-o 



Hydrogen . . 4-29 ... H^ 



Oxygen 37-87 ... O" 



100- 

 combined with one equivalent of basic water. — Ann. de Ch, et de Phys., 

 Octobre 1844. 



NATURE AND COMPOSITION OF SOME OPIANATES. 



M. Wohler states that a boiling saturated solution of opianic acid 

 dissolves the carbonate of barytes, lime, lead and silver, with the dis- 

 engagement of carbonic acid, and it forms soluble salts with thesebases. 



Opianate of barytes is very soluble and crystallizes in radiating 

 prisms ; it effloresces when heated, and loses six per cent., or two 

 equivalents of water. Opianate of lead forms transparent, brilliant, 

 maramillated crystals, which are but slightly soluble. It contains 

 5-45 per cent, of water or 2 equivalents ; when heated, it first loses 

 this water, then fuses and is eventually decomposed. At a certain 

 temperature the salt crystallizes free from water in small fasciculated 

 silky crystals. It is soluble in alcohol. 



Opianate of silver crystallizes in short transparent crystals, which 

 when seen in mass have always a yellowish tint, which appears to 

 be produced by the action of light, but it does not subsequently in- 

 crease ; it contains water, which it loses when heated and becomes 

 opake ; it fuses when more strongly heated, and when decomposed 

 it yields a liquid of a fine green colour and metallic lustre ; it after- 

 wards assumes a deep red colour, and eventually leaves metallic 

 silver; these colours appear to depend on the formation of a salt of 

 the suboxide. — Ann. de Ch. et de Phys., Octobre 1844. 



PREPARATION OF OPIANIC ACID. BY M. WOHLER. 



To prepare this acid dissolve narcotina in an excess of dilute sul- 

 phuric acid, and add to the solution pure and very finely powdered 

 binoxide of manganese, and boil the mixture. The reaction, which 

 takes place immediately, is shown by the liquor becoming of a 

 yellow colour, and the evolution of a small quantity of carbonic acid 

 gas ; the ebullition is to be continued as long as carbonic acid is 

 evolved, adding occasionally binoxide of manganese, so that there 

 shall be excess of it at the end of the operation ; and care must espe- 

 cially be taken that there is always an excess of acid. The liquor 

 is to be filtered while hot, and it is of a reddish-yellow colour ; on 

 cooling it deposits a mass of opianic acid in small yellow crystals, 



