120 
Scheme  for  Detection  of  Alkaloids,  etc.  { 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm„ 
Mar.  1,  1874. 
STAS-OTTO'S  SCHEME  FOR  THE  DETECTION  OF  ALKALOIDS,  Etc. 
^Translated  from  the  German  by  H.  Carrington  Bolton,  ph.  d. 
Taken  up  by  ethe1*  in  acid  solutions.f 
Taken  up  by  ether  in  alkaline  solutions.^ 
With  tannic  acid. 
Solid  (odorless). 
Precipitated. 
Colchicia. 
The  yellow 
solution  is 
eolored  violet 
by  concentra- 
ted HN03> 
DlGITALIN. 
Mixed  with 
a  solution  of 
galls  concen- 
trated H2SO4 
a  bright  red 
stratum  is 
formed  and 
finally  a  red 
liquid. 
No  action. 
Picrotoxin. 
The  dilute 
alkaline  (Na- 
HOj  solution 
is  colorless  and 
reduces  Fe  ti- 
ling's coppe 
solution. 
On  diluting 
the  nitricacid 
solution  and 
making  it  al- 
kaline with 
NaHO,  an  or- 
ange-red col- 
oration is  ob- 
tained. 
On  dissolv- 
ing in  concen- 
trated H2SO4 
and  mixing 
with  a  drop  of 
bromine  wa- 
ter, a  violet  red 
coloration 
produced. 
With  concentrated  sulphuric  acid. 
In  the  cold. 
Rose-red. 
Brucia. 
Soluble  in 
concentrated 
HNU3,  with  a 
bright  red  col- 
or, which  be- 
comes yellow 
on  heati  ug. 
On  adding 
stannic'  chlo- 
ride to  this 
solution,  a 
violet  color  is 
formed. 
Brown-red. 
Delphinia 
forms  with 
concentrated 
H2SO4  and 
bromine  wa- 
ter a  reddish- 
\violet  color, 
j The  same  col- 
oration ap 
pears  on  eva- 
porating with 
p  h  ospfi  oric 
acid. 
On  heating. 
Yellow 
then  or 
ange,  anc 
cherry-red. 
Veratria, 
forms  with 
concentrat- 
ed HClacciZ- 
orless  solu- 
tion, which 
becomes  a 
fine  dark  red 
on  heating. 
ACONHIA 
dissolves  in 
H2SO4  with  a 
red-brown  col- 
or. 
Yellow,  then 
violet-blue, 
and  dark  red. 
Taken  up  by  ether  in  alkaline  solutions.^ 
Solid  (odorless). 
With  concentrated  H2SO4  and 
K2Cr207. 
In  the  cold. 
Violet-blue. 
On  heating. 
Characteristic 
odor. 
With  c  o  n  - 
c  entrated 
p  h  0  s  p  h  oric 
acid  and  ap- 
plication of 
heat. 
Aconitia 
produces  a  vi- 
olet color.  Dis- 
Strtchnia  Atropia. 
forms  a  yellow  The  odor  is 
solution  with  better  formed 
HNOa.  T  h  e  by  placing  thejsolves  in  con- 
violet  coloration  alkaloid  on  a  concentrated 
also  obtains  few  crystals  of L12SO4  with  a 
when  either  po-  chromic  a  c  i  d\hair-brown  co 
tassic  ferricy-and  gentlyjior. 
anide,  plumbic  heating  until 
and  manganic  the  green  ox- 
ide of  chromi- 
um begins  1 0 
form. 
dioxides,  or  po- 
tassic  iodate  is 
nsed  in  place  of 
K2Cr207 
Note. 
Cuearina 
gives  similar  r<  ac- 
tions to  strjc1  nia, 
hut  forms  a  red  color 
with  H2S04  alone, 
and  is  moreovor  in- 
soluble in  ether  in 
the  presence  of  acids 
and  alkalies. 
Delphinia  and 
DlGITALIN 
behave  in  the 
same  manner 
with  H3P04. 
Liquid  (strongly  odorous). 
With  chlorine  water. 
Nakcotina, 
on  dissolving 
inH-;S04with 
a  little  HN03, 
forms  a  red 
color.  Con- 
centrated H2- 
C$04  with  a. 
trace  of  sodic 
molybdat© 
forms  a  green 
color.  Dis- 
solves in  HC1, 
forming  apaZe 
green  solution 
which  turns 
yello  wish-ied 
on  adding 
NH±HO. 
Insoluble  in  ether 
Morphia. 
Precipitated. 
Conia. 
Aqueous  so- 
lutions become 
colored  on  heat- 
ing. 
Dry  HC1  gas 
colors  itred  and 
then  deep  blue. 
No  action. 
Nicotina. 
Aqueous  solu- 
tions do  not  be- 
come colored 
on  heating. 
On  gently  heat- 
ing with  HC1, 
becomes  violet, 
and  on  adding 
HN03  the  color 
changes  to  or- 
ange. 
The  ammoniacal 
solution  gives  a 
grass-green  solu- 
tion on  heating 
with  cuprammoni- 
urn  (Nadler).  Con- 
centrated HNO* 
colors  it  blood-red, 
neutral  Fe2Cl6  col- 
ors it darkblue.  On 
dissolving  in  con- 
centrated H2SO*, 
heating,  all®wing 
to  cool,  and  then 
adding  a  little 
HN03,  an  intense 
red  color  is  prod- 
uced. Reduces  an 
ac'd  solution  of 
iodic  acid,  the 
»odine  dissolving, 
out  in  Crf2  with  a 
violet  color. 
*  Pharmaceutische  Post,  Vol.  VI.,  No.  11,  June,  1873.  f  Also  a  small  quantity  of  atropia. 
X  Also  partially  colchicia  and  digitalin. — American  Chemist,  November,  1873. 
