HYDROQUINONE

n. Hid-ro-kwi2n'on. Fr., h. Ger., Hydro chin on. It., idrochinone. Syn.: hydro chinone, hydro kinone. A substance having the composition of quinone with hydrogen added, CgH4.O2H2, and obtained by the action of nascent hydrogen or of reducing agents on that body. It may also be obtained by the oxidation of quinic acid, and by decomposition of arbutin. It forms colorle laminar and prismatic crystals of sweetish taste, which melt at 169 C. In chemical composition h. is para-dioxybenzene; i. e., benzene in which two hydrogen molecules at opposite points of the closed carbon chain are replaced by hydroxyl = C6(H,OH,H,H,OH,H,). It is isomeric with resorcin and pyrocatechin. It acts rapidly in typhoid fever, acute rheumatism, and erysipelas, as an antiseptic and anti ferment. It lowers both the pulse and temperature and acts on the respiration and the arterial pre ure. [" Proc. of the Am. Pharm. A oc.," xxxvii (a, 14); B, 4, 9, 93, 270 (a, 38).] H.-sulphuric acid. Ger., Hydrochinonschwefelsaure. The form under which arbutin is excreted in the urine. [B.] [s. 391]