AMINES AND AMIDES. CYANOGEN COMPOUNDS. 355 



acid or its salts, potassium myronate is converted into dextrose, allyl mustard 

 oil, and potassium bisulphate : 



KC 10 H ]8 N8 2 10 = C 6 H 12 6 + C 3 H 5 NCS + KHSO 4 . 

 Potassium Dextrose. Allyl mustard Potassium 



myronate. oil. bisulphate. 



The univalent radical allyl, C 3 H 5 ! , is isomeric, but not identical with the 

 trivalent radical glyceryl, C 3 H 5 Ui . The triatomic alcohol glycerin, C 3 H 5 (OH) 3 , 

 may, however, be converted into the monatomic allyl alcohol C 3 H 5 OH, by 

 various processes. From allyl alcohol an artificial allyl mustard oil is manu- 

 factured. 



Allyl sulphide, (C 3 H 5 ) 2 S, is the chief constituent of the oil of garlic. 



Elaterin, C 20 H 28 5 . Obtained from the fruit of Ecballium elaterium. It is 

 not a glucoside and its constitution is unknown ; it forms white crystals which 

 have a slightly acrid, bitter taste, are almost insoluble in water, have a neutral 

 reaction, and impart to cold concentrated sulphuric acid at first a yellow color, 

 which gradually changes to scarlet. 



Picrotoxin C 30 H 34 13 . Obtained from the seed of Anamirta paniculata. Like 

 elaterin, this is not a glucoside and its constitution is unknown. The white 

 crystals have a very bitter taste, are somewhat soluble in water, have a neutral 

 reaction, and impart to cold concentrated sulphuric acid a golden-yellow color, 

 very gradually changing to reddish-brown, and showing a brown fluorescence. 



47. AMINES AND AMIDES. CYANOGEN COMPOUNDS. 



Forms of nitrogen in organic compounds. Nitrogen may be 

 present iu organic compounds in three forms, viz., ammonia, cyanogen, 

 nitric acid, or derivatives of these compounds. Substances containing 

 nitrogen in the nitric acid form may be obtained by combination of 

 nitric acid with organic basic substances, when salts are formed, or 

 with alcohols, when compound ethers result. In some cases the 

 nitric acid radical NO 2 may replace one or more hydrogen atoms in 



QUESTIONS. 451. To which group of substances is the term "carbohy- 

 drates" applied? 452. State the general properties of carbohydrates. 453. 

 Mention the three groups of carbohydrates, and the composition and charac- 

 teristics of the members of each group. 454. Mention some fruits in which 

 grape-sugar, and some plants in which cane-sugar is found. 455. What is the 

 difference between grape-sugar and cane-sugar, and by what tests can they be 

 distinguished ? 456. From what source, and by what process, is milk-sugar 

 obtained ? 457. What is starch, what are its properties, by what tests can it 

 be recognized, and what substance is formed when diastase or dilute acids act 

 upon it ? 458. Where is cellulose found in nature, and what are its proper- 

 ties? 459. What three compounds may be obtained by the action of nitric 

 acid upon cellulose, and what are they used for? 460. What substances are 

 termed glucosides ? Mention some of the more important glucosides. 



