MICRO-ANALYSIS. 



841 



Morphine Sulphate [(CitHi9N03),.HoS04 + 5H.O]. 



Morphine is a derivative of 3-6 clioxy-phenanthryleneoxide * 

 which crystalHzes from alcoholic solutions in orthorhombic prisms 

 or needle-like crystals, containing- one molecule of water of 

 crystallization (Ci^HigNOg.H^O)* which it gradually loses at 

 75 C. It forms a number of crystalline salts of which the 



Fig. 338. Morphine sulphate: orthorhombic crystals from aqueous solution. 



sulphate is here only described. There are at least two different 

 morphine sulphates,! the neutral salt containing 5 molecules of 

 water of crystallization being the article usually found in com- 

 merce. It readily loses some of its water of crystallization eyen 

 at a temperature of 30-40 C. At 25 C. one part of 



* Oesterle, Pharmakochemie. 

 t Briihl, Pflanzen-Alkaloide. 



