Action of Chlorine on Animal Substances. 279 



hence water must have been decomposed ; the chlorous acid 

 produced combined direct with the protein. The fluid 

 contains a little of a brown matter, probably humin, but 

 in very small quantity. Proteinchlorous acid is straw-yel- 

 low, has a greasy feel, like proteinsulphuric acid, insoluble 

 in alcohol and aether, almost so in water; soluble in, without 

 colouring, strong sulphuric acid ; by water white flocks are 

 precipitated. Nitric acid dissolves it at ordinary tempera- 

 tures in the course of some days and forms xanthoproteinic 

 acid. Soluble in cold hydrochloric acid ; does not form 

 humin as protein does. Soluble in baryta water ; the solu- 

 tion gives precipitates with nitrate of copper and zinc. Solu- 

 ble in ammonia, with evolution of nitrogen; when evaporated 

 leaves a residue soluble in hot water; from this solution al- 

 cohol precipitates a new organic matter, which is soluble in 

 cold water; it must be washed with alcohol and dried at 130°; 

 it is called oxyprotein. It is a yellow powder, and, although 

 often treated with boiling alcohol, generally contains a little 

 chlorine. Formula C^o H^^ N'° O"'. Oxyprotein is easily 

 pulverizable; of an amber-yellow colour; heavier than water; 

 soluble therein; almost insoluble in alcohol, quite so in aether; 

 soluble in hot sulphuric and hydrochloric acids ; changed by 

 nitric acid into xanthoproteinic acid ; soluble in potash, soda, 

 ammonia and baryta water, and the solutions give no precipi- 

 tate with ferrocyanuret of potassium ; sulphuric acid gives a 

 white one, soluble in the heated solution. Solution of galls 

 gives a precipitate : nitrate of silver,acetate of lead and copper, 

 and chloride of iron are precipitated by it. The copper salt is 

 Qho Him n^° O". Cu O, probably (C« H«'- N'o 0'\ Cu O) 

 + (C^^H'^'N'-^O'^ + H- O). Proteinchlorous acid forms a 

 peculiar salt with baryta : the precipitates produced in me- 

 tallic solutions by this salt have been analysed, but their com- 

 position is as yet doubtful. Mulder calls them chloroxy- 

 proteates. [Aimalen der Chemie und Pharmacie, xxxvi. p. 68.) 



When hcematin is treated with chlorine it becomes white ; 

 all iron is extracted and remains in the solution with hydro- 

 chloric acid and a little organic matter. 



The white flocks, when dried at 100°, still smell of chlo- 

 rous acid, their formula is O' H« N« O-'* C1'' = C^* H N« O" 

 + 6 (CI- O'), or one atom of haematin and six of chlorous acid. 



The new compound is light yellow, insoluble in water, so- 

 luble in alcohol and aether. Dissolved by strong sulphuric 

 acid, decomposed by heating, and sulphurous acid is evolved. 

 Soluble in ammonia with evolution of nitrogen; soluble in 

 potash and soda with reddish colour. 



Xanthoproteinic acid is prepared by acting on several pro- 



