meconin

[Eng., ., mecon ( ium ); suff. -in.] Chem.: C10H1004. A neutral substance existing in opium, first observed by Dublanc. It can be formed from narcotine by the action of dilute nitric acid, and from opianic acid by treatment with caustic alkalies. It may also be obtained from opium by allowing a cold-water extract to stand for some weeks, redi olving the crystalline deposit in alcohol, and again crystallizing. Meconin crystallizes in colorle hexagonal prisms, soluble in boiling water, alcohol, and ether; slightly soluble in cold water. It has a very acrid taste, melts at about 98°, and distills without alteration. It forms substitution derivatives with bromine, iodine, ., of which bromo-meconin is the type, C10H9BrO4.