876 PHLORIDZIN. 



Erdmann, Otto, But C 32 H 15 O 12 + 6HO, and when dried, 

 C 32 H 15 O 12 + 3HO, according to Stass. 



This substance which very much resembles salicin, was dis- 

 covered by De Kceninck and Stass in the bark of the root of the 

 apple, pear, cherry, and plum tree. It has been considered as 

 crystallized salicin plus 2 atoms of oxygen. It is extracted 

 from the bark cut into small pieces, by digestion in alcohol of 

 80 per cent, at 176'. It is crystallized by distillation of the 

 alcohol, solution and cooling, and purified by means of animal 

 charcoal. 



Phloridzin crystallizes in colourless silky prisms of a square 

 base, of density 1.4298, which are neutral, having a bitter 

 astringent taste, are soluble in 1000 parts of cold water, and in 

 all proportions in hot water, are soluble in alcohol and almost 

 insoluble in ether. Phloridzin loses 4 atoms of water of crys- 

 tallization at 212, fuses at 320, and is not decomposed below 

 392 (200 centig.). It produces a white precipitate in solution 

 of subacetate of lead. It dissolves a large quantity of hydrate 

 of lime, and gives by evaporation in vacuo a yellow crystalline 

 mass, of which M. Liebig infers the composition to "be 

 C 42 H 23 O 18 +3CaO,3HO, from an analysis by Stass. Phloridzin 

 is a febrifuge like salicin. 



Phloretin, C 30 H 15 O 10 . When a solution of phloridzin is 

 boiled with a little of any acid whatever, except nitric and 

 chromic acids, it is converted into grape sugar, and the present 

 compound, which separates from the solution as a crystalline 

 powder. Phloridzin thus undergoes a similar change with 

 salicin, by the action of acids. 



Nitrophloretic acid, phloretic acid (Stass), C 30 H 12 O 15 N ; an 

 uncrystallizable matter of a puce colour, obtained by the action 

 of nitric acid on phloridzin. It is soluble in alkaline solutions, 

 and precipitated again by acids. 



Phlorizein, C 42 H 29 O 26 N 2 ; a red substance soluble in am- 

 monia, which is obtained by the joint action of air and am- 

 monia on humid phloridzin. The addition of 8 atoms of oxygen 

 and 2 atoms of ammonia to the elements of anhydrous phlo- 

 ridzin, gives exactly the composition of phlorizein. This com- 

 pound also unites with I atom of ammonia, when dissolved in 

 its solution and evaporated in vacuo with sticks of potash, and 

 forms a purple blue powder, of a coppery lustre, very soluble 



