Dr. Schuuck on Rubian and its Products of Decomposition, 279 

 In 100 parts it contained therefore-r-^^,,^ «^ ^^^ * , 



I. ...ft.-..,.., .....J, ra. ?..-..;,:■ 



tHOii Carbon . . . 70*78 70*79 70-56 



>.- Hydrogen . . 3-88 3-89 ,3-^8 , 



Oxygen . . . 25-34 25-32 ; ^ ^,. J^4S Z,^ 



It is doubtful whether this body contains 44 or 32 equivalents 

 of carbon. The formulae 0^4 H^^ 0^^ C^^ H^^ 0« and C^^ hh 0^ 

 require in 100 parts respectively the following amounts of the 

 three constituents : — 



C44 H" 012. 



Carbon . ^,^.^, 70-58 

 Hydrogen Q\f S'74i 

 Oxygen . . . 25-68 



If the first formula be adopted, then this substance is formed 

 from chlororubian by the latter losing its chlorine, which com- 

 bines with sodium and is replaced by oxygen, while 13 equiva- 

 lents of water are eliminated, in accordance with the following 

 equation :— sy^^o-toV oUik ' 



C44 H27 ci024+!iJaO=C44 H^4 oi2 + NaCl+ 13H0. 

 If one of the two latter formulae be adopted, then chlororubian 

 first splits up into chlororubiadine and sugar, and the former 

 then loses its chlorine which is replaced by oxygen, while either 

 five or four equivalents of water separate, as will be seen from 

 the following equations : — 



C44 H27 C1024 _^ NaO = C32 H»o 08 + C^^ H^^ 0^^ + ^aCl + 5H0, 

 C44 H27 C1024 + NaO = C^^ Rii 0^ + 0^2 H12 012 + NaCl + 4H0. 

 The first formula agrees best with the results of analysis. 

 Nevertheless, it seems improbable that chlororubian, when sub- 

 jected to the action of so potent an agent as caustic soda, should 

 not, in the first instance at least, be decomposed in the same 

 manner as with strong acids. On the other hand, if this were the 

 case, chlororubiadine should, by the action of caustic alkalies, 

 be converted into the same body as chlororubian, which is not 

 the case. If chlororubiadine be treated with caustic soda in 

 the same way as chlororubian, it first dissolves with a purple 

 colour, but the solution on boiling slowly deposits reddish-brown 

 flocks and loses the greatest part of its purple colour. The flocks 

 on being treated with boiling muriatic acid, acquire an orange 

 colour, and after being collected on a filter and washed, are 

 found to be almost insoluble in boihng alcohol ; but notwith- 

 standing their resemblance to the body formed from chlororubian, 

 they differ from the latter in containing a large quantity of chlo- 

 rine, only a small quantity of the latter having been abstracted 

 bythealkah. ^ -<., r ^ ^ , 



