40 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 



ferent conditions and a number of reaction products obtained. In 

 order to facilitate matters, I will place the following scheme on the 



blackboard : 



/Phytochlorine 



fPhytines-Phaeophytine <^ 

 \Phytorh«3ine 



^\ /Pyrrophylline 



"C \ Phyllines-Glaucophylline-Rhodophylline((^ 

 ■^- \Phyllophylline 



We will now take up the action of acids. Nitric acid destroys 

 chlorophyll with separation of a colorless oil, which comes from the 

 alcohol rest of the chlorophyll ester. 



Reaction with other acids is marked by a color change and a split- 

 ting out of magnesium. The presence of Mg in the chlorophyll mole- 

 cule was proven beyond doubt in all experiments. 2y2 to 3>4% of 

 MgO is found in the ash. It is very readily split off by acids. HCl 

 in 11% solution changes chlorophyll into a compound, which is solu- 

 ble in ether with olive-green color. Warmed with alcohol, it assumes 

 a bright red color. 



Compounds obtained by action of acids are called "Phytines," tnose 

 obtained by action of alkalis "Phyllines." Acid action also produces 

 an ester without basic or acid properties — consequently chlorophyll 

 itself is an ester. Phosphorus was not found at any time, consequently 

 an older theory that chlorophyll was similar to lecithin was proven 

 incorrect. On treating an alcoholic solution of chlorophyll with 

 an alcoholic oxalic acid, a product not readily soluble in alcohol was 

 formed. It was extracted with chloroform to which it imparts a 

 brown color. Isolated, this substance was called Phaeophytine. It is 

 waxy, almost black, in solution, olive-brown with red fluorescence. 

 With metals, zinc, copper or iron, it becomes chlorophyll-like. When 

 this phaeophytine is saponified with alkali, it splits off an alcohol, 

 C.oH^oOj which was called Phytol, and which was subsequently found 

 in all chlorophylls. 



In contradistinction to action of acids, alkalis do not split off the 

 Magnesium ; the principal products of alkaline hydrolysis are deep 

 green alkali salts which contain the Mg in complex form, most likely 

 attached to the nitrogen. 



