SPARTEINE. 435 



Bromonicotine, C 10 H 12 Br 2 ]Sr 2 . When an ethereal 

 solution of nicotine is poured into an ethereal solution 

 of bromine, shiny, bright-red prisms, M H M Br s !KP i .Bi*. 

 HBr, are deposited, which lose hydrobromic acid in 

 contact with the air, and when boiled with water or 

 alcohol, or when their solution is allowed to stand for 

 a long time, are converted into bromonicotine hydrobrom- 

 ate, C 10 H 12 Br 2 N 2 .HBr, bromine being given up. Potassa 

 or ammonia separates free bromonicotine from the cold 

 solutions of these salts. Crystallizes from water in 

 long colorless needles, permanent in the air. Diffi- 

 cultly soluble in cold water, easily soluble in hot water 

 and in alcohol. A weaker base than nicotine. By 

 boiling with caustic potassa it is reconverted into nico- 

 tine. 



Mcotine combines with the iodides of alcohol radi- 

 cles, forming crystalline iodine-compounds, from which 

 silver oxide separates strongly alkaline ammonium 

 bases, which are not volatile. 



3. Sparteine. 



Occurrence. In Spartium scoparium. 



Preparation. The plant is exhausted with water, 

 which is slightly acidified with sulphuric acid; the 

 extract evaporated down to a small volume, and dis- 

 tilled with caustic soda. The distillate is evaporated 

 to dryness with hydrochloric acid ; and the residue dis- 

 tilled with solid potassium hydroxide. 



Properties. Colorless, thick oil, of a bitter taste; 

 sparingly soluble in water; boils at 288. Strongly 

 alkaline. Has a narcotic action. Diatomic base. 



Conducts itself towards alcoholic iodides in the same 

 manner as nicotine. 



4. Opium Pases. 



In opium, the dried juice of the capsules of the 

 poppy (Papaver somniferum), are contained, in addition 



