W. Gibbs on Urie Acid. 295 
To the theory of the molecular structure of the members of 
the uric acid series which I have here presented, it may be 
justly objected that it is to a certain extent arbitrary, since it 
is easy to see that in many cases the elements admit of a 
ifferent arrangement. I admit the force of the objection, yet 
it will be found, I think, upon examination, that there is less 
toom for variation in the arrangements than might at first be 
4a Moreover, I have been guided as far as possible by 
the known syntheses of some substances and products of de- 
composition of others. Thus in the case of uric acid, Strecker 
has recently found that by the action of iodhydric acid it is 
resolved into one molecule of glycocoll, three of carbonic acid 
and three of ammonia, so that it may be regarded as derived 
from cyanuric acid and glycocoll in the same sense in whic 
hippuric acid is derived from glycocoll and benzoic acid. The 
structural formula which I have given explains the decompo- 
sition effected by Strecker very simply, for we have 
=€—Ho 
N—€—Ho 
ae —Ho 
OH. 
Now 
N=€—Ho 
Nat +3H,0=3€0,+3NH, 
N—€—Ho 
2H,0=—€,H,NO 
\6—H t+ . Glycocoll. 
_In like manner it is easily shown that uroxanic acid is de- 
i from uric acid by the addition of one atom of water ; 
Ho Ny—6—H 
Stop onk} no “Sf HO= lh bg 
M4 bobo ee | ser 
< 
c—H 6—C=H. 
I Uroxanic acid. % 
have here taken uroxanic acid with, the formul 
*.NWH.0,49H1,0 instead of €,N,H,,@, which is usually 
attributed to it, 
PS 
Seer ot ae 
