90 



J. SAKURAI. 



H.,C-C1 H.C-NH3CI 



" I + i^XH3 = I 



OC-OH OC-ONH, ; 



the latter part of this change being analogous to that which occurs 

 between ammonia and alkyl halides. This ammonium compound 

 must, then, be regarded as decomposing into glycocoll and ammonium 

 chloride liy the action of heat : 



HoC-NHs'Cr: H.C-NH3 



I :-■ 1=11+ NH.Cl. 

 OC-OiNH^I OC-0 



The conception of the mode of formation of glycocoll here ad- 

 vanced is not a matter of speculation, but is only an expression of 

 actual facts, and it ncccssarihj leads to the internal ammonium theory 

 of the constitution of this compound ; for, if we regarded glycocoll as 

 Ha^. CHo. COOH, we should liave to assume that the highly acid 

 group, COOH, remains unneutrallised by ammonia even in the pre- 

 sence of an excess of the latter ! 



Again, it may be observed that in describing various other modes 

 of formation of glycocoll and of the " amido-acids " generally, the fact 

 is almost always either concealed or forgotten that it is the hydro- 

 chlorides or other analogous compounds which are first obtained. 

 Thus, it is stated that " amido-acids " are formed by heating a mix- 

 ture of aldehyde-ammonias and hydrogen cyanide with hydrochloric 

 acid, the changes which occur being indicated by some such scheme 

 as follows : 



R.CH-NHo E.CH-XH., R.CH-NHo R.CH-NH^ 



i ^1 -> I -> I 



OH Cj^ CO.NH, CO.OH ; 



or, that they are produced by reducing nitro-acids with tin and 

 hydrochloric acid : 



