SULPHURIC ACID ON MORPHINE. 
287 
the precipitate formed is perfectly white, while the super- 
natant liquid is nearly colourless, and the filter is only co- 
loured by a minute quantity of a light brown body. The 
white substance, collected on a filter, may be easily washed 
with cold water from the excess of sulphuric acid ; it is then 
freed from adherent moisture by means of blotting-paper, 
and finally dried at a very gentle heat. The mother-ley 
contains a little more of the substance in solution, but it only 
yields a very impure preparation on evaporation. 
The following are the properties of this body : — Its colour 
is white, and, after drying, always more pure than in the 
moist state, yet frequently with a brownish tint, which is 
generally not to be removed by the ordinary means. Sus- 
pended in the liquid, it separates readily in large caseous 
flakes, and on evaporation shrinks extremely. As seen 
under the microscope with a magnifying power of 200, it 
consists of round shining globules, which are perfectly homo- 
geneous, but not in the least crystalline. Exposed to the 
air, it gradually becomes greenish on the surface ; it is 
slightly soluble in water, but the solution is decomposed on 
boiling, and acquires an intense emerald-green colour. It 
is not dissolved or altered by alcohol or sether. In acid 
liquids, especially if sulphuric or muriatic acid is present, it 
is dissolved with the greatest ease without change ; the 
substance separates unaltered on evaporating the dilute so- 
lutions, but it is decomposed by the concentrated acids with 
formation of a brown body. Alkaline fluids, especially 
when caustic and concentrated, act in a similar manner to 
the concentrated acids ; they destroy the substance, and 
give rise to the formation of a brown product of decom- 
position. 
Potash and ammonia produce in the acid solutions very 
considerable precipitates, which are readily soluble in an 
excess of the precipitant. Carbonate of ammonia likewise 
yields a precipitate, but does not redissolve it. These pre- 
cipitates are especially characterized by the circumstance, 
