42 AUULTEKATED DRUGS AND CHEMICALS. 



yellow, but the presence of acetanilid imparts to it a purplish-red 

 shade. 



Other modifications are given, but the following is considered the 

 most delicate: Intimately mix 1 gram of sodium peroxid with 0.1 gram 

 of the substance to be tested, place the mixture in a 15 cm test tube, 

 and add 3 cc of water. After the vigorous action ceases, shake thor- 

 oughly, cool, and add 5 cc of sodium-hyperchlorite solution, again shake 

 vigorously, and set aside. If the phenacetin is pure the liquid remains 

 colorless, or, at most, after long standing assumes a pale-yellow color, 

 while the presence of acetanilid gives a purplish-red tint shading to 

 pink, depending upon the amount of the adulterant present. 



Judging from the chemical composition of phenacetin and acetan- 

 ilid and the final color reactions, it is quite probable that the sodium 

 peroxid acts mainly as a saponifying agent, as does potassium 

 hydroxid in the original method. 



MERCURors NITRATE TEST (P. C. PLUGGE).^ 



Boil together 0.5 grain of phenacetin and 8 cc of water, cool and 

 filter. To the filtrate "add a fragment of potassium nitrite and 0.5 cc 

 of dilute nitric acid and boil the mixture a few minutes. Then add 

 1 cc of mercurous nitrate solution containing nitrous acid, boil again, 

 and if a red color develops acetanilid is indicated. 



IODOPHENOL TEST.& 



This test was adopted by the German Pharmacopoeial Commission 

 for the identification of acetanilid, and is recognized by the fourth 

 edition of the German Pharmacopoeia, but the reaction has been proved 

 to be worthless. Phenacetin responds affirmatively to this test, which 

 is executed as follows: 



Heat together for a few minutes 0. 2 gram of acetanilid and 2 cc of 

 25 per cent hydrochloric acid. A clear solution results, which, with 

 4 cc of a 5 per cent solution of carbolic acid and a suitable amount of 

 a good calcium hypochlorite solution (1 in 10) gives a dirty violet-blue 

 color. On rendering this solution alkaline with ammonia water an 

 indigo blue develops. The test has been modified in various ways, 

 but so far the results are not satisfactory. 



ISONITRIL REACTION. 



This test was originally proposed by A. W. Hofmann c as character- 

 istic of anilin. It has, however, been found that primary amines in 

 general respond to this reaction. It is therefore a group reaction and 

 can not with safety be employed to detect one compound containing 



Arch, d. Phann., 1890, 228: 9; J. Anal. Appl. Chem., 7: 77. 

 6 Arch. d. Pharm., 1887, 225: 1042. 

 . d. chem. Ges., 1870, 3: 767. 



