Am.  Jour.  Phann.  \ 
ApriL  1882.  / 
Chlorophyll. 
187 
submit  to  the  test  of  experiment  by  trying  whether  pure  chlorophyll 
can  be  made  to  yield  carbohydrates  by  the  action  of  reducing  agents^ 
and  more  especially  sodium.  For  this  purpose  a  quantity  of  fresh 
leaves  was  treated  with  alcohol  and  benzin,  according  to  a  method  for 
which  the  original  paper  must  be  consulted,  by  which  means  the 
alcohol  takes  up  chiefly  the  yellow  coloring  matters  which  accompany 
the  chlorophyll,  whilst  the  latter  is  dissolved  by  the  benzin. 
A  solution  of  chlorophyll  in  benzin  was  treated  with  sodium,  when^ 
after  a  lapse  of  8  to  14  days,  a  cloudiness  appeared,  and  gradually 
assumed  the  form  of  a  voluminous  green  precipitate,  whilst  the  super- 
natant liquid  was  no  longer  green  but  golden-yellow,  owing  to  the 
presence  of  a  yellow  coloring  matter  (A),  which  will  be  subsequently 
referred  to.  The  green  precipitate  was  a  dark  green,  almost  black, 
mass,  of  soapy  consistence,  and  was  readily  soluble  in  absolute  alcohol^ 
forming  a  brilliant  green  beautifully  fluorescent  liquid ;  it  also  dis- 
solved in  water,  forming  a  similar  solution,  but  less  fluorescent.  On 
adding  the  solution  of  a  metallic  salt,  e.g.,  copper  sulphate,  to  the 
aqueous  solution,  a  dark  green  voluuiinoiis  precipitate  of  the  copper 
salt  is  obtained,  whilst  there  remains  in  the  filtrate  a  colorless  amor- 
phous body,  which  has  almost  the  composition  of  a  carbohydrate,  but 
containing  rather  more  hydrogen,  and  is  partially  converted  by  the 
action  of  acids  into  a  substance  showing  the  most  important  reactions- 
of  a  sugar  of  the  dextrose  group.  On  slightly  acidifying  the  aqueous 
solution  of  the  original  green  or  fluorescent  coloring  matter  with 
hydrochloric  acid,  or  on  passing  in  a  current  of  carbonic  anhydride, 
the  liquid  assumes  a  golden-green  cloudy  appearance,  which,  in  the 
case  of  the  hydrochloric  acid,  soon  settles  out  as  a  distinct  precipitate,^, 
whilst  the  colorless  amorphous  substance  above  referred  to  remains  in 
solution.  The  ])rincipal  constituent  of  the  precipitate  is  an  almost 
black  coloring  matter,  to  which  the  name  phyllocyanin  is  given. 
Among  the  decomposition-products  of  the  original  green  colorings 
matter  by  means  of  acids  are  two  substances  which  belono:  to  a  class 
of  yellow  coloring  matters  to  be  subsequently  referred  to,  and  another 
wliich  is  of  a  fatty  nature. 
The  author  thinks  that  the  original  green  fluorescing  body  is  homo- 
geneous, but  of  a  very  complicated  composition.  On  analysis,  it  gave^ 
as  the  extremes  of  several  determinations:  60-96  to  61-88  per  cent.  C, 
9-21  to  9-39  TEI,  1-99  N,  10-46  to  11-00  ash  (which  contained  sodium, 
phosphoric^  acid  and  magnesium,  but  no  iron). 
