264 Dr. A. W. Mofman on the Organic Bases 



in clots, which unite in a short time, forming a clear oily stra- 

 tum. Ammonia also effects this change, although leucol at 

 a higher temperature decomposes with the greatest facility the 

 ammoniacal salts. When a few drops of cyanol are added to 

 a dry leucol salt, the odour of the latter base is instantly de- 

 veloped ; a proof that leucol is a weaker base than cyanol. 



Sulphate of Leucol. — When anhydrous leucol, a solution in 

 water or alcohol is mixed with sulphuric acid, no crystals are 

 obtained ; the liquid, if placed under a bell jar, inspissates, 

 and gradually becomes a viscid syrup. If some drops of con- 

 centrated sulphuric acid are added to an jethereal solution of 

 leucol, the compound produced separates as a glutinous liquid 

 and falls to the bottom of the vessel. By allowing the whole 

 mixture to repose in a corked flask for some days, crystals are 

 gradually deposited. I removed the aether and dissolved these 

 in absolute alcohol, whereby better crystals were obtained j 

 but they were so deliquescent as to be unfit for analysis. 



Oxalate of Leucol. — I could only obtain this salt as a con- 

 fused, radiated, glutinous mass, which was deposited when the 

 solution had reached a certain point of evaporation. This is 

 quite contrary to Runge's description of the oxalate of leucol; 

 he says, that the facility with which this salt crystallizes is its 

 marked characteristic. The crystalline mass is copiously 

 soluble in aether, alcohol, and water. This property enables 

 us to separate it with the greatest ease from cyanol ; to effect 

 this separation the crude bases are dissolved in alcohol or 

 aether, to which is added an alcoholic solution of oxalic acid. 

 Some hours afterwards the oxalate of cyanol deposits in white 

 crystals, while all the leucol remains in solution. My expe- 

 riments do not correspond in this respect with those of Runge, 

 who found that the oxalate of leucol separated first in crystals. 

 The leucol is obtained pure by distilling the mother liquor 

 with potash, and changing the receiver so soon as the distillate 

 gives no blue reaction with chloride of lime. 



Nitrate of Leucol. — This crystallizes the best of all the 

 leucol salts ; it is obtained by allowing a mixture of leucol and 

 dilute nitric acid to remain under a bell jar. From the amber- 

 coloured solution the salt crystallizes after some time in con- 

 fused concentric aggregated needles, which can be obtained 

 white and dry by pressing them between folds of bibulous 

 paper. They are extremely soluble in water and alcohol, and 

 crystallize readily from the latter ; insoluble in aether. When 

 exposed to the air they become quickly blood-red. On being 

 moderately heated the crystals melt to a clear liquid, and when 

 the temperature is increased, a colourless gas is expelled, which 

 condenses in starry crystals upon the upper part of the tube. 



