Griffith's materia medica and pharmacy : for the use of medical and pharmaceutical students.

Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Griffith's materia medica and pharmacy : for the use of medical and pharmaceutical students. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Amyl Nitris. Nitrite of Amyl (C5TIii]Sr02) is produced by the action of nitric or nitrous acid on amylic alcohol. To purified amylic alcohol, in a glass retort containing some copper foil, add one- tenth of its bulk of sulphuric acid ; add the same quantity of nitric acid diluted with an equal volume of water; apply a gentle heat, and add more nitric acid gradually until nearly all the amylic alcohol is exhausted; wash the distilled pro- duct with solution of soda, to remove hydrocyanic acid, etc., and rectify it over fused caustic potash, to remove any moisture. The following is the reaction :— C5H12O -f Cu + H2SO4 + HNO3 = + CuSO^ + 2H2O. Another way is to act upon arsenious acid (AS2O3) with nitric acid, the resulting nitrous anhydride (N2O3) being conducted into the amylic alcohol:— 2HNO3 + As203=N203 + H2O + AS2O5. N2O3 + 2C5Hi20=2C5HiiN02 + H2O. It is the homologue of nitrite of ethyl (Sp. J^^ther. Nitr.), and is an ethereal liquid of a yellowish colour and peculiar, not disagreeable, odour; sp. gr., 0*880 ; boiling point, 205°; insoluble in water; soluble in rectified spirit in all propor- tions. If it be added, drop by drop, to caustic potash, while fused by the application of heat, valerianate of potassium will be formed. It volatilises at 262° to 270° F. ITitro-Glycerinum (C3H5 (N03)3). Mtro-glycerine is prepared by dropping glycerine into a mix- ture of nitric and sulphuric acids kept cold by ice. It is a colourless transparent fluid, with sweet aromatic taste, but with- out odour. Sparingly soluble in water; freely so in absolute alcohol and ether. It is very explosive, but is safe in fatty or oily solution. It may be kept in a 1 per cent, aqueous or alcoholic solution. 27