142 Report of Department of Animal Industry of the 



The several salts of phytic acid reported in this paper were pre- 

 pared from previously purified and analyzed phytic acid and for 

 this reason it was deemed quite superfluous to make carbon and 

 hydrogen determinations on each salt. 



EXPERIMENTAL. 



CALCIUM MAGNESIUM POTASSIUM PHYTATE. 



Two gms. phytic acid was dissolved in about 100 cc. of water, 

 0.224 gm. of MgO (2 mol.), and 0.84 gm. CaCOg (3 mol.) added. 

 The MgO dissolved at once and nearly all the calcium carbonate 

 but the salt of phytic acid was precipitated at the same time as a 

 white precipitate. This was dissolved by a few drops of hydro- 

 chloric acid, the solution filtered and the filtrate rendered slightly 

 alkaline to litmus with potassium hydroxide. After the precipitate 

 has settled it was filtered off, washed well in 50 per ct. alcohol, 

 alcohol and ether and dried in vacuum over sulphuric acid. The 

 product was a fine white amorphous powder. It was free from 

 chlorine. On moist litmus paper it showed a faintly alkaline reac- 

 tion. It was slightly soluble in water but readily soluble in dilute 

 acids. Yield 2.9 gm. 



After drying at 105** in vacuum over phosphorus pentoxide it 

 was analyzed. 



For CeHiaOayPe CajMga K2 = 948 



Calculated Ca 12.65; Mg 5.12, K 8.24, P 19.60 per ct. 



Found Ca 13.03; Mg 4.29, K 6.42, P 19.07 per ct. 



This shows the difliculty of obtaining pure salts of phytic acid when 

 several bases are combined in the same molecule of the salt. 



PENTA-CALCIUM PHYTATE. 



One gm. phji;ic acid was dissolved in about 50 cc. of water and 

 excess of calcium acetate added. On the first addition of the calcium 

 acetate a white precipitate is produced, but on shaking this redis- 

 solves and only after a hberal excess of the acetate has been added 

 is the precipitate permanent. After settling, the product was 

 filtered and thoroughly washed in 50 per ct. alcohol, alcohol and 

 ether and dried in vacuum over sulphuric acid. The substance was 

 a perfectly white amorphous powder. On moist litmus paper it 

 showed an acid reaction. It is only shghtly soluble in water, readily 

 soluble in dilute mineral acids, less soluble in acetic acid. 



For analysis it was dried at 105° in vacuum over phosphorus 

 pentoxide. 



For CeHnOzTPeCas = 904 



Calculated Ca 22.12: P 20.57 per ct. 



Found Ca 22.46: P 20.62 per ct. 



