PROTEINS 155 



min. Even assuming the smallest values for the molecular weight 

 of albumin, the quantities of acid or alkali found are so large that they 

 indicate the fixation of several acid or alkali molecules. This offers 

 a further explanation of the marked increase in hydration produced 

 by acids and alkalis. The stability of an albumin solution and its 

 precipitability, e.g., by alcohol, are directly proportional to the num- 

 ber of albumin ions it contains. The circumstances here are quite 

 analogous to those with crystalloids. Ions tend to go into solution 

 and to form hydrates; the saturation concentration of neutral par- 

 ticles is always less than that of ions. 



In this way, we may explain the properties of strongly ionized 

 pure acid and alkali albumin as contrasted with the slightly disso- 

 ciated neutral albumin. How does this theory agree with the effect 

 of neutral salts? \Vo. PAULI explains it in the following way: 



xNH 4 Cl ,NH 3 C1 



R + NaN0 3 => R + HNO 3 



\X)OH \COONa 



Acid albumin + neutral salt + free acid 



In this way was explained not only the increased number of free 

 H ions, which he demonstrated, but also the marked diminution in 

 internal friction; because an amphoteric salt, in which both anions 

 and cations tend to ionize about equally, is but slightly dissociated. 

 The action of neutral salts in alkali albumin is different; it follows 

 the following scheme: 



xNH 3 OH ,NH 2 KC1 



R + KC1 <=> R +H 2 



\3OONa \COONa 



Alkali albumin + neutral salt complex albumin + ^^ 



Accordingly, a complex albumin salt was formed to which a less 

 amount of ionization may be ascribed than to alkali albumin. The 

 action of salts of the alkaline earths follows this scheme: 



xNH 3 OH xNH 2 NaN0 3 



R +^N0 3 ^R +H 2 



\:OONa \COO~ 



The replacement of the alkali ion in the carboxyl of the amino 

 group results in a weakly ionized complex salt. The effect on albu- 

 min of organic bases, which are often highly toxic, and of amphoteric 

 electrolytes, have also been studied by H. HANDOVSKY, and the re- 

 sults agree with the above scheme. 



