Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
February,  1899. 
Lithium  Benzoate  and  Salicylate. 
63 
NO. 
Physical 
Appearance. 
Microscopical 
Appearance. 
Reaction 
on  Litmus. 
Concentrated 
H2S04  Test. 
Moisture 
at  no°  C. 
White  powder. 
Semi-crystalline. 
Acid. 
Slight  color. 
4-40 
2  
4'32 
3  
Grayish  " 
4*50 
4  
Ashen  " 
Amorphous. 
Dark  " 
3"9$ 
5  
Grayish  " 
>< 
Slight  " 
4-00 
Soluble  in  Parts. 
No. 
Per  Cent, 
of  Lithium 
Salicylate. 
Water  at 
15°  C. 
Boiling 
Water. 
Alcohol, 
95  Per 
Cent,  at 
15°  C. 
Boiling 
Alcohol, 
95  Per 
Cent. 
99"56 
0-72 
o-45 
1 -63 
0-91 
98-81 
075 
0-46 
1 -63 
0-91 
3  
100-31 
0-84 
0-46 
i-8i 
0-92 
4  -i  
99-09 
0-79 
0-49 
,70 
0-93 
5  
98-60 
0-74 
0-44 
1-70 
0-91 
This  chemical  is  deliquescent  only  in  a  moist  atmosphere. 
For  products  formed  by  igniting  lithium  salicylate,  see  same 
operation  under  lithium  benzoate. 
No.  4  gave  a  precipitate  with  copper  sulphate  solution.  This 
sample  will  not  be  considered  any  farther,  for  it  undoubtedly  is 
an  abnormal  product.  It,  however,  comes  from  a  good  manu- 
facturer. 
The  method  given  by  the  U.S.P.  tor  detecting  chlorides  is  not 
safe.  Ivithium  chloride  decomposes  into  lithium  oxide  and  hydro- 
chloric acid,  when  ignited  under  certain  conditions.  The  fixed 
alkalies  volatilize  at  high  temperatures.  Therefore,  the  test  is  not 
safe.  Chlorides  can  be  tested  for  by  the  procedure  outlined  above 
(sulphates  cannot,  with  safety,  be  tested  for  in  this  mixture)  under 
lithium  benzoate,  for  detecting  chlorides.  The  remaining  impuri- 
ties can  also  be  tested  for  by  the  directions  given  there. 
The  Pharmacopceia  requires  this  chemical  to  contain  99-1 3  per 
cent,  of  pure  lithium  salicylate.  According  to  the  above  results, 
this  is  not  excessive,  and  might  well  be  retained.    The  method  of 
