519 
obtained products produced by the action of acids on chlorophyll. 
HorPr-SrYLER ') obtained from grass by extraction with boiling alcohol 
a crystalline chlorophyll derivative, which he subjected to a number 
of operations in order to separate it from other substances and to 
purify it. He named it chorophyllan. Tscuircn *) states that when 
parts of plants that contain chlorophyll are treated with acids, chloro- 
phyllan crystallizes out in the cells. Witistirrer, Isier, and Hue *) 
have after further investigation compared the chlorophyllan of Horrr- 
SEYLER to phaeophytin. In the opinion of these investigators it is not 
a pure compound but chlorophyll more or less decomposed by plant 
acids and allomerised by treatment with solvents. For this reason 
they consider the name chlorophyllan unsuitable for the chlorophyll 
derivative obtained by means of acids. 
Tames *) also discussed the action of acids on chlorophyll and 
comes to the conclusion that the formation of chlorophyllan offers 
no hindrance to the demonstration of carotin, because, although it 
must be admitted that the crystals obtained may perhaps be conta- 
minated by some chlorophyllan, yet in the main they are composed 
of carotin. Kour *) evidently agrees with Tammes. He writes: “Mehr 
oder minder unbewusst ist die Säuremethode schon früher von einigen 
Forschern angewandt worden, unbewusst insofern, als das auskrys- 
tallisirende Carotin irrtiimlich für Chlorophyllan gehalten und nur in 
einzelnen Fallen als solches erkannt wurde.” [ consider TAMMEs’ rea- 
soning inconclusive, whilst Konr, does not further explain his views. 
A simple investigation of the crystals shows that they are very diffe- 
rent from carotin-crystals and there is even no reason to assume 
that they contain any carotin. 
I exposed fresh plants and parts of plants containing chlorophyll 
to the action of acids at the ordinary temperature, oxalic acid from 
1°/, to 10°/,, hydrochloric acid-of 5°/,, tartaric acid of 10°/, and 
hydrofluoric acid of 2°/,. Without exception after a day crystals had 
separated out. They form small aggregates attached to the chroma- 
tophores. The crystal aggregates resemble spherical bodies, but with 
high magnification the constituent crystal plates can be distinguished. 
Only in one case, namely in Cladophora, did I see long whip-shaped 
erystals projecting from the crystal aggregates. The crystal aggregates 
are not yellow, orange yellow, or red, but brown. In acetone they 
1) KF. Horre-Seyrer, Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chemie 3, 1879, p. 339. 
2) A. Tscuircu, Untersuchungen über das Chlorophyll, 1. e. p. 441. 
8) R. Wiusrirrer und M. Ister, |. ¢. p. 287 et seq. and p. 337, 
Le. p. 217 and 218. 
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