438 OPIUM BASES. 



caustic potassa, but very slightly in ammonia. Fusible, 

 with loss of water of crystallization, congealing in a 

 crystalline form. Narcotic poison; in small quantity 

 causes sleep. 



Monatomic base. Morphine hydrochlorate, C 17 H 19 N0 3 . 

 HC1 + 3H 2 O, forms fine prisms, of a silky lustre ; 

 easily soluble in alcohol and hot water, less soluble 

 in cold water (in 16-20 parts). Morphine sulphate, 

 2(C 17 H 19 N0 3 )H 2 S0 4 + 5II 2 0, is similar to the hydro- 

 chlorate. 



A solution of pure neutral morphine salts and also 

 the free base are colored a beautiful dark blue by iron 

 chloride. Heated with concentrated sulphuric acid, 

 morphine is dissolved ; the solution has a dirty, grayish- 

 red color; and is turned a beautiful, bright blood-red 

 by the addition of a drop of nitric acid. Heated with 

 potassa to 200, morphine evolves methylamine. 



Oxymorphine (Pseudomorphine), C 17 H 19 ]N"0 4 . Is 

 occasionally contained in opium. Is produced by 

 heating a solution of one molecule of morphine hydro- 

 chlorate with one molecule of silver nitrate to 60. 

 By treating the precipitate with hydrochloric acid, 

 oxymorphine hydrochlorate is obtained. It is sparingly 

 soluble in cold water, more easily in hot water. When 

 treated with ammonia the free base is thrown down 

 from its solution. Shiny powder, consisting of fine 

 needles. Insoluble in water, alcohol, ether, and chloro- 

 form even at the boiling temperature. Fuses at 245, 

 at the same time undergoing decomposition ; soluble in 

 caustic potassa and soda, and in a large excess of am- 

 monia. Gives the same reaction with iron chloride as 

 morphine. Monatomic base. The salts are nearly all 

 difficultly soluble in water. 



Apomorphine, C 17 H 17 N0 2 . The salts of this base 

 are produced by heating morphine or codeine with con- 

 centrated hydrochloric acid at 140-150 ; by treating 

 morphine with concentrated sulphuric acid, and by 

 heating morphine hydrochlorate with a concentrated 

 solution of zinc chloride to 120. Sodium bicarbonate 



