Compound Celluloses 



139 



The following experiments with iodine solution in potassium 



kfcj >.. JO 



iodide may be cited : 



The absorption, therefore, depends upon the ratio of fibre-sub- 

 stance to iodine solution. This is more clearly shown by the 

 following parallel determinations : 



It was finally established that, on digesting the fibre-substance at 

 1 8 C. with twenty times its 'weight of the iodine solution as 

 ordinarily prepared, the absorption is constant at 12-9-13-3 p.ct. 



It is to be noted that the celluloses also absorb a certain 

 proportion of iodine under similar conditions, viz. 3-4 p.ct. 

 when digested with 20 times their weight of the decinormal 

 solution. 



Decompositions of Lignocelluloses, with Reso- 

 lution into Constituent Groups. We have already 

 shown that the lignocelluloses are attacked by hydrolytic 

 agents and partially resolved into soluble products. These 

 products, though doubtless of lower molecular weight than 

 the original fibre-substance, preserve its essential characteristics, 

 and the results show that the lignocellulose reacts as a homo- 

 geneous compound. When exposed, on the other hand, to the 



