450      DEPORTMENT  OF  ALKALOIDS  WITH  REAGENTS,  ETC. 
tated  by  bicarbonate  of  soda,  even  from  acid  solutions,  if  the 
latter  are  not  diluted  in  a  larger  proportion  than  1:100. 
Narcotina,  Quinia  and  Cinchonia  belong  to  this  group. 
+ 
Narcotina  (C46  H25  N  014)= Na. 
+ 
1.  Crystallized  narcotina  (Na.+Aq.)  appears  usually  in  the 
form  of  colorless,  brilliant,  straight,  rhombic  prisms  ;  when  pre- 
cipitated by  alkalies,  as  a  white,  loose,  crystalline  power.  It  is 
insoluble  in  water.  Alcohol  and  ether  dissolve  it  sparingly  in 
the  cold,  but  somewhat  more  readily  upon  heating.  Solid  nar- 
cotina is  tasteless ;  but  the  alcoholic  and  ethereal  solutions  are 
intensely  bitter.  Narcotina  does  not  alter  vegetable  colors.  At 
338°  it  fuses,  with  loss  of  one  equivalent  of  water. 
2.  Narcotina  dissolves  readily  in  acids,  combining  with  them 
and  forming  salts.  These  salts  have  invariably  an  acid  reac- 
tion. Those  with  weak  acids  are  decomposed  by  a  large  amount 
of  water,  and,  if  the  acid  is  volatile,  even  upon  simple  evapora- 
tion. Most  of  the  salts  of  narcotina  are  amorphous,  and  soluble 
in  water,  alcohol  and  ether ;  they  have  a  bitter  taste. 
3.  Pure  alkalies,  and  alkaline  carbonates  and  bicarbonates 
immediately  precipitate  from  the  solutions  of  salts  of  narcotina, 
+ 
Na.+Aq.,  in  the  form  of  a  white  powder,  which,  seen  through  a 
lens  magnifying  100  times,  appears  an  aggregate  of  small  crys- 
talline needles. 
The  precipitate  is  insoluble  in  an  excess  of  the  precipitants. 
If  a  solution  of  narcotina  is  mixed  with  ammonia,  ether  added 
in  sufficient  quantity,  the  narcotina  which  has  separated  upon 
the  addition  of  ammonia,  redissolves  in  the  ether,  and  the  clear 
fluid  presents  two  distinct  layers.  If  a  drop  of  the  ethereal 
solution  is  evaporated  on  a  watch  glass,  the  residue  is  seen,  upon 
inspection  through  a  lens  magnifying  100  times,  to  consist  of 
small,  distinct,  elongated,  lance-shaped  crystals. 
4.  Concentrated  nitric  acid  dissolves  narcotina  to  a  colorless 
fluid,  which  acquires  a  pure,  yellow  tint  upon  application  of 
heat. 
5.  Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  dissolves  narcotina  to  a  yellow 
fluid,  which  turns  brown  upon  application  of  heat.  A  solution 
«of  narcotina  in  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  containing  a  slight 
5 
