304 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



which is amorphous. The solubility in cold alcohol is very 

 slight, about 1 : 1000. It dissolves in acids and aliialies 

 without decomposition, and from solutions in the latter 

 it can be precipitated by passing carbonic acid, or by the 

 addition of acetic acid. The aqueous solution possesses a 

 neutral reaction. The free base can be heated up to 150° 

 without suffering decomposition, but above this temperature 

 it sublimes, and partially decomposes, with evolution of 

 hydrocyanic acid. When heated with potassium hydrate 

 to 200°, it yields ammonia and potassium cyanide. Heated 

 with water to 200°, it decomposes into carbonic acid, formic 

 acid, and ammonia, and in this respect it agrees with adenine 

 (page 288). The properties of Bteeckee's sarkiae agree 

 closely with those of adenine-hypoxanthine ; and, inasmuch 

 as the latter has been often described as hypoxanthine, it is 

 very desirable that the properties of hypoxanthine be re- 

 determined. 



When evaporated with an oxidizing agent, chlorine water 

 or nitric acid, the residue is said to give on contact with 

 ammonia vapors a rose-red color (Weidel, murexide test). 

 KossEL, however, has shown that this is due to the presence 

 of xanthine, and that pure hypoxanthine does not give either 

 the murexide test or the xanthine reaction. According to 

 Steecker, concentrated nitric acid converts hypoxanthine 

 into a nitro-compound, which in turn, by the action of a 

 reducing asrent, is changed into xanthine. This statement 

 has not been confirnj^ either by Fischer or by Kossel. 

 It does not give a green color with sodium hydrate and 

 chloride of lime — distinction from xanthine (page 316). 



With acids it yields crystallizable compounds, and, like 

 the amido acids, it forms compounds with bases, and also 

 with metallic salts, such as silver nitrate and copper acetate. 



The hydrochloride, CjH^Np.HCl + Hf>, crystallizes in 

 needles, and, like the nitrate and sulphate, it is dissociated 

 on contact with water. The crystalline form is character- 

 istic and distinct from that of adenine, as well as adenine- 

 hypoxanthine. The nitrate forms thicli prisms or roundish 

 masses, readily soluble in water and ammonia. Platinum 



