A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

474 TBE CHEMISTRY OF
speedy vomiting and considerable depression, but this soon passes off
without leaving any ill effects.
Oxymorphine, or Pseudomorphine C^H^NO^, does not always occur
in opium, and is obtained by heating morphine hydrochloride with
silver nitrite. It is a white powder, which gives reactions similar to
those of morphine.
Codeine, or Methyl-morphine C],H,1(CH8)NO8, is precipitated from
the concentrated ammoniacal solution by caustic soda; it is freely
soluble in alcohol, ether, ammonia, and boiling water, and crystallizes
in large transparent octahedrons. It is also used in medicine.
When heated with an excess of hydrochloric acid on a water-hath,
it is converted into chlorocodide;—
+ HC1 = C^H^CINC),, + H2O
CiU&rocodide is obtained by adding an alkali to the solution of the
hydrochloride as a snow-white mass, which readily dissolves in alcohol
and ether. On heating the hydrochloride with water to 140", codeine
is reproduced:—
HaO + CtfH^CH^ClNO, = HC1 + Cl7H17(CH,)(OH)NO2
When chlorocodide is heated with hydrochloric acid underpressure
it is resolved into methyl chloride and apomorphine:—
= CWH17KO2 + CH8C1
Narcotine CJ9H14(CH8)3NO7 is partly left behind in the " marc," or
insoluble portion of opium, from which it is extracted with acetic
acid. It crystallizes in small, glistening, white prisms, melting at
170°, and is tasteless and almost insoluble in water. It dissolves
readily in acids, but does not form well-defined salts.
When narcotine is heated with water to 260°, it yields trimethylamine,
and by heating it with fuming hydriodic acid it is resolved
into three molecules of methyl iodide and a aew base called nornucotine
CwHnNO7. Products standing intermediate between this compound
are formed by heating narootiae with hydrochloric acid; the
first product being dimethyl-narnacotine (XgH^CH^jNOf, which by
the further action of the acid is transformed into methyl-nomacotine
CH^CH^NO
Above 200° narcotine is resolved into meoomn and cotarnine, and
oxidizing agents convert it into cotamiae and opianiu acid.
Gotarnne C^H^NOa ia a base crystallizing from hot water in
colourless prisms. By the continued aotion of hot dilute nitric acid
it yields methylamino and eotarnic add CuHiaO&, and concentrated
sulphuric acid converts it into apophylknicadd CgHfNO^ which
forms large colourless crystals.
Meconine C,0H1004 occurs also in the free state in opium, and crystallizes
from not water in brilliant prisms melting at 110°. It has
the properties of an alcohol, and forma compound ethers.
Opianio Acid C10H10Os forms thin prisms, which are not freely