1895.] Contributions to the Chemistry of Chlorophyll. 



319 



added really contains a compound with acid and not a product 

 of decomposition, is evident from the fact that if the acid be neutra- 

 lised with soda the solution loses its bluish tinge, and now shows the 

 absorption spectrum of an alcoholic solution of the free substance. 

 A solution of phylloporphyrin in concentrated sulphuric acid shows a 

 spectrum with four bands. The spectrum of solutions of the zinc 

 salt is peculiar. While the solutions of the alkaline salts show a 

 spectrum differing very little from that of the substance itself, the 

 zinc salt in solution shows only two bands (see ng.). On adding a 

 little hydrochloric acid to the zinc salt solution and boiling, the 

 spectrum of the hydrochloride makes its appearance, followed, after 

 considerable dilution, by that of the substance itself. 



EXPLANATION or FIGTJEE. 

 Absorption Spectra of Phylloporphyrin and its Compounds. 



1. Phylloporphyrin in ether. 



2. The same in concentrated sulphuric acid. 



3. The same in hydrocnloric acid. 



4. Zinc salt. 



Phylloporphyrin, like most of the derivatives of chlorophyll 

 hitherto examined, contains nitrogen, differing in this respect from 

 the dichromatic acid of Hoppe-Seyler, which, according to him, is 

 devoid of nitrogen. 



The analysis of phylloporphyrin and of its zinc salt yielded the 

 following results : 



0*1023 gram phylloporphyrin gave 0'2850 gram C0 2 and 0'0654 

 gram H 2 O. 



0'0920 gram gave 9'00c.c. of nitrogen at 21 and 753 mm. pressure. 



0-0848 gram of the zinc salt gave 0'2093 gram C0 2 and 0'0466 

 gram H 2 0. 



