CHAPTER V 
THE CHEMISTRY OF THE PLANT 
In these paragraphs are brought together the com- 
moner plant constituents and products, giving the name, 
chemical formula and occurrence of each, so far as these 
are known. 
SUBSTANCE AND FoRMULA OccURRENCE 
Water In all parts of the plant; the 
H.0 chief solvent. 
Inorganic Acids and Salts These acids are present almost 
exclusively as the neutral or 
acid salts of various metals, 
especially Ca, K, Na and Mg. 
They are largely absorbed by 
the plant from the surround- 
ing water in the forms in which 
they are present in the plant, 
or a shifting of the bases oc- 
=o curs after their absorption. 
Sulphuric Chiefly as the Ca salt in some 
 HSO, crystals. 
Nitric As various salts in the cell sap. 
HNO; 
Hydrochloric Chiefly as K or Na salts in the 
HCl cell sap of plants, especially 
those of salty soil, or in ma- 
rine algae. 
Phosphoric In the cell sap as Ca, Na or K 
H;PO, (and other forms) salts, 
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