223 Dr. A. von Planta and Mr. W. Wallace on Apiine. 



prepared by dilute sulphuric acid, and we have no doubt what- 

 ever that the two are identical. Their reactions also correspond. 

 Neither this preparation nor that immediately preceding it con- 

 tained any chlorine. 



It may therefore be concluded that by boiling apiine with di- 

 lute mineral acids, it loses four, and sometimes two equivalents 

 of water. It certainly is singular and characteristic, that whereas 

 it takes up water when boiled T,vith that liquid, it loses water or 

 its elements if a little sulphuric or hydi'ochloric acid is added 

 before boiling. 



We have not considered it necessaiy to name these substances, 

 as they are unimportant, and have no very characteristic pro- 

 perty. We have mentioned them merely as fonning part of the 

 chemical histoiy of apiine. 



4. Action of nitric acid. 



A quantity of pure apiine was boiled for about half an hour 

 with nitric acid, diluted with half its bulk of water. The de- 

 composition and production of nitrous acid fumes proceeded very 

 slowly, although the apiine dissolved readily in the acid. The 

 liquid, after standing an hour or so, became quite colourless. 

 The addition of water made it yellow, without however produ- 

 cing a precipitate, and the same occun-ed on neutralizing with 

 ammonia. On mixing with water, and nearly neutralizing with 

 potash, a yellow colour was also manifested, the liquid remaining 

 clear; but on being allowed to cool and stand for an hour, a 

 small quantity of precipitate appeared, which seemed to be pure 

 apiine not yet decomposed. The solution supersaturated with 

 ammonia did not produce the slightest turbidness with chloride 

 of calcium, proving the absence of oxalic acid. It was also care- 

 fully tested for carbazotic acid by means of a solution of chloride 

 of atropine, but no indication of its presence was manifested. 

 T'Hien however the solution was carefully evaporated to dryness, 

 the matter which was left deflagrated slightly on being heated. 



Braconnot ha\ang stated that the products of the decomposi- 

 tion of apiine by nitric acid were oxalic and picric acids, an ex- 

 periment conducted exactly as above was made on impure apiine. 

 In the solution was found abundance of oxalic acid, and likewise 

 some picric acid, while the insoluble portion seemed to consist 

 almost entirely of the latter, or of some compound analogous to 

 it, and which gave the reaction for carbazotic acid with a salt of 

 atropine. When dried and subsequently heated on a platina- 

 knife, it detonated, but not loudly. It is therefore probable that 

 in this and in Braconnot's experiments, the oxalic acid was pro- 

 duced wholly from the impurities, and the picric acid principally, 

 if not entirely from them. 



As with the pui-e apiine the diy residue deflagrated slightly, 



