The Chemistry of Chlorophyll. 
BY 
EDWARD SCHUNCK, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.C.S. 
With Plate VII. 
I PROPOSE in the following pages to give a short account 
of the present state of our knowledge on the chemistry 
of chlorophyll, and shall avail myself of this opportunity to 
add a few new facts to the stock already accumulated. 
The subject of chlorophyll is one of considerable interest 
to the chemist ; to the botanist and the physiologist it is not 
only interesting, but also highly important, since there can be no 
doubt that chlorophyll plays a part in the process of assimilation 
going on in the vegetable organism. In what manner it assists 
in the process has not yet, it is true, been exactly ascertained ; 
nevertheless it will hardly be denied that an accurate know- 
ledge of the physical and chemical properties of the substance 
is calculated to throw some light on its functions, though even, 
when in possession of such knowledge, the obscurity in which 
the matter is involved might possibly not be entirely dispelled. 
Considering the vast amount of labour bestowed by physicists 
and chemists on the study of chlorophyll, it is surprising how 
little we really know of the subject. I shall endeavour to 
explain in the sequel to what this want of success on the 
part of investigators is due. Several new observers have lately 
entered the field, and we may therefore look forward to im- 
portant discoveries in the near future ; in the mean time a 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. III. No. IX. February 1889.] 
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