
ITS PRODUCTS OF DECOMPOSITION. 17 
tested with ammonia, in order to see whether a precipitate is formed ; and the 
action is allowed to go on until this is obtained, and the chlorocodeine is then pre- 
cipitated by a slight excess of ammonia. The successful performance of this expe- 
riment requires exactly the same precautions as the preparation of nitrocodeine ; 
and, unless the action is stopped at the right moment, further products of decom- 
position are obtained. The reaction which takes place is represented by this 
equation :— 
3 (C,, Hy, NO,, H Cl) +3 H C1+KO Cl 0,=K Cl+6 HO+3(C,, H,, ClNO, HCl). 
The chlorocodeine is precipitated in the form of a silvery crystalline powder, 
closely resembling bromocodeine; it has generally a yellowish colour, and the 
fluid from which it has deposited is coloured dark-red by the presence of a small 
quantity of some products of the further action of chlorine. It retains also a small 
quantity of codeine, from which it is purified by dissolving in hydrochloric acid, 
boiling with animal charcoal, and reprecipitating with ammonia ; and it is finally 
obtained in crystals from its solution in boiling spirit. 
In its general properties chlorocodeine closely resembles bromocodeine ; so 
much so, indeed, that they may be easily confounded with one another. It.is 
sparingly soluble in boiling water, and deposited, on cooling, in minute prisms 
exactly similar to, and apparently isomorphous with, those of bromocodeine. It 
is readily soluble in strong alcohol, especially with heat, and sparingly soluble in 
ether. It dissolves in sulphuric acid in the cold without change, but the solution 
is charred by heating. Nitric acid dissolves it, and the solution is decomposed by 
boiling, but not by any means so readily as codeine. Red fumes are evolved 
along with a peculiar and excessively pungent vapour. 
Analysis gave the following results :— 
6'425 grains of chlorocodeine, dried at 212°, gave 
I 15:315 --- of carbonic acid, and 
3-601 --- of water. 
6°162 grains of chlorocodeine gave 
II. {14597 ... of carbonic acid, and 
{ 3°372 ... of water. 
5-030 grains of chlorocodeine gave 2°100 grains chloride of silver. 


Experiment. Calculation. 
5 
I. II. 
Carbon, . 3 F 65:00 64:62 64:76 Cy, 216 
Hydrogen, ; 4 6:22 6:08 5:99 H,, 20 
Chlorine, 7 : oe 10°32 10:64 Cl 35:5 
Nitrogen, : A as adn 4:19 N 14 
Oxygen, 3 ‘ te os 14:42 O, 48 
100-00 333°5 
VOL. XX. PART I. x 
