48 ANIMAL ACIDS CONTAINING AZOTE. 



left to itself. It was analyzed by Wohler and Liebig, and found 

 composed of, 



1 atom alloxanic acid, (C 8 H 2 Az 2 O 8 ) 17-75 



2 atoms lime, . . 7-00 

 2 atoms water, . . 2-25 



27. 



Now alloxane is C 8 H 2 Az 2 O 8 + 2 (HO). Hence it would ap- 

 pear, that when alloxane combines with a base, it divides itself 

 into one atom of alloxanic acid, and 2 atoms of water. 



SECTION Vn. OF MYCOMELIC ACID. 



When a gentle heat is applied to a mixture of ammonia and 

 alloxane, it becomes yellow, and when cooled and concentrated 

 it concretes into a yellow jelly. This jelly is a combination of 

 ammonia and anew acid, which Wohler and Liebig, who discover- 

 ed it, have distinguished by the name of mycomelic acid* 



If we employ concentrated solutions of alloxane and ammo- 

 nia, there generally separates, as soon as we apply heat, a heavy 

 yellow powder, which is the same combination. When the li- 

 quid assumes a red colour alloxantin is present. 



Mycomelate of ammonia dissolved in hot water and treated 

 with an excess of dilute sulphuric acid, gives a transparent gela- 

 tinous precipitate of mycomelic acid, which when washed and 

 dried assumes the form of a yellow porous powder. We obtain 

 the same acid directly if we supersaturate a hot mixture of 

 alloxane and ammonia with dilute sulphuric acid, and boil the 

 mixture for a few minutes. 



Mycomelic acid is very little soluble in cold water, but rather 

 more soluble in hot water. It reddens vegetable blues and dis- 

 solves in ammonia and the fixed alkalies, but does not form with 

 them crystallizable salts. Mycomelate of silver is yellow and 

 flocky. It may be obtained by mixing together solutions of my- 

 comelate of ammonia and nitrate of silver. The mixture may 

 be boiled without in the least altering the nature of the salt. 



Mycomelic acid, after being dried in the temperature of 248, 

 was decomposed by means of oxide of copper. The volume of 

 azotic gas evolved was to that of the carbonic acid gas as 1 : 2. 

 The constituents of the acid were found to be, 



Ann. de Chim. et de Phys. Ixviii. 295. 



