oSTew York Agricultural Experiment Station. 143 



TETRA-CALCIUM PHYTATE. 



Various attempts were made to obtain a penta-calcium phytate 

 in crystalline form without success. A tetra-calcium phytate was 

 finally obtained by the following method: 



The penta-calcium phytate was dissolved in a small quantity of 

 0.5 per ct. hydrochloric acid, a concentrated solution of calcium 

 acetate was added until a permanent precipitate remained which 

 was then dissolved by the addition of a few drops of dilute hydro- 

 chloric acid. On now concentrating in vacuum to somewhat less 

 than half the bulk at a temperature of 40° the calcium salt separates. 

 The product was filtered off, washed thoroughly in 50 perct. alcohol, 

 alcohol and ether and dried in the air. The substance was a white 

 semicrystalline or fine granular powder of irregular form. Its solu- 

 bility was practically the same as for the penta-calcium phytate. 

 It was free from chlorine. 



On drying at 105° in vacuum over phosphorus pentoxide the sub- 

 stance lost water corresponding to 12 H2O. 



0.2120 gm. subst.: 0.0422 gm. H2O. 



0.1238 gm. subst. gave 0.0308 gm. CaO and'0.0967 gm. Mg2P207. 



0.1857 gm. subst. gave 0.0456 gm. CaO and 0.1448 gm. Mg2P207. 



For C6Hi6027P6Ca4 = 866 

 Calculated Ca 18.47: P 21.47 per ct. 

 Found Ca 17.78: P 21.77 per ct. 

 Ca 17.55: P 21.73 per ct. 



For 12 H2O calculated 19.96: found 19.90 per ct. 



penta-magnesium phytate. 



After dissolving 2.5 gm. phytic acid in about 100 cc. of water, 

 a concentrated solution of magnesium acetate was added. This 

 did not cause any precipitate nor could the substance be brought 

 to crystallization by any of the usual methods. The solution was 

 then concentrated to about half its bulk in vacuum at a tempera- 

 ture of 35°-40°. As the concentration proceeded the substance 

 began to separate as a heavy powder. This was filtered off, well 

 washed in dilute alcohol, alcohol and ether and dried in the air. 

 The product was a perfectl}^ white semi-crystalline or loose granular 

 powder of irregular form. On moist litmus paper it showed an 

 acid reaction. It was slightly soluble in water, readily soluble in 

 acids. 



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

 oxide. It lost water corresponding to 24 H2O. 



0.1504 gm. subst. gave 0.0510 gm. H2O. 



0.0997 gm. subst. gave 0.0671 gm. Mg2P207 for Mg. 



0.0498 gm. subst. gave 0.0393 gm. MgaPaOy for P. 



