ITS PRODUCTS OF DECOMPOSITION. 61 
15-485 ... of carbonic acid, and 
5-858 grains of codeine, with chromate of lead, gave 
IV. 
3°780 ... of water. 
5°395 grains of codeine gave, by VARRENTRAP and WILL’s method, 3°79 grains 
of ammonio-chloride of platinum. 
5'898 grains gave, by the same method, 4°32 grains of ammonio-chloride of 
platinum. 


I. II. II. IV. 
Carbon, . : : 71-91 72:02 72-09 72:09 
Hydrogen, : . 7-05 7:04 7-14 7-16 
Nitrogen, ; : 4-41 4:60 4-50 ag 
Oxygen, : 2 16-63 16:34 16-27 
100-00 100-00 100-00 
These results confirm, in all respects, the formula C,, H,, NO,, the calculated 
results of which are given on a former page. The determination of the atomic 
weight of codeine by the analysis of its platinum salt, presented considerable diffi- 
culties, and at first gave extremely discordant results, the per centage of plati- 
num varying from 18°51 to 20°30. I found, however, that by precipitating in the 
cold, a salt was obtained, to be afterwards described, which gave sufficiently uni- 
form results. This salt, dried at 212°, retained an equivalent of water. It gave, 
as the mean of seven experiments, the details of which will be afterwards given, 
19-25 per cent. of platinum, while the calculation, according to the above formula, 
requires 19:19 per cent. These determinations leave no doubt as to the formula 
of codeine: and they are fully confirmed by the result of the analyses of the sub- 
stances to be described in the sequel of this paper. 
Codeine crystallised from water or hydrous ether is obtained in crystals, 
often of considerable size, belonging to the right-prismatic system, and presenting 
a considerable number of modifications. These crystals contain two equivalents 
of water of crystallisation, as determined by this experiment :— 
7-126 grains crystallised codeine lost, at 212°, 0-454—5-66 per cent. water. 
The calculated result gives 5-67. 
Codeine is an extremely powerful base, rapidly restoring the blue of reddened 
litmus, and precipitating oxides of lead, copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, and other 
metals, from their solutions. It is precipitated by potash from its salts; and is 
generally stated to be insoluble in that alkali, but this is true only of very highly 
concentrated solutions, as a considerable.quantity of strong potash may be added 
to a saturated solution of codeine in water without producing precipitation; and 
even when a very large amount of potash is added, a certain quantity of the base 
is still retained in solution. Codeine is soluble in ammonia, but not more so than 
in water. 100 parts of a moderately strong solution of ammonia dissolved, at 60’, 
1-46 parts of codeine; and according to Roziquet, 100 parts of water, at 59°, dis- 
solve 1:26 parts. Contrary to what is usually stated, I have found that codeine 
VOL. XX. PART I. R 
