Acid

(as/-id) [acere, to be sour]. I. A name applied to any substance having a sour taste. 2. A compound of an electronegative element with one or more atoms of hydrogen which can be replaced by electro-positive or basic atoms. The majority of acids contain oxygen, and are known as oxyacids; those not containing oxygen are termed hydrogen acids. Acids vary in their terminations according to the quantity of oxygen or other electro-negative constituent. Those having the maximum of oxygen end in -ic; those of a lower degree in -otts. When there are more than two combinations the preposition hyper is prefixed to the highest, and hypo to the lowest. Acids that end in -ic, as sulphunV acid, form salts terminating in -ate; those ending in -ous form salts terminating in -ite. A., Abietic. See Abietic. A., Abric, C12H24N30, a crystallizable acid, said to exist in jequirity. A., Acetic, an acid solution composed of 36 parts of absolute acetic acid, C2H402, and 64 parts of water. It has strongly acid properties. A., Acetic, Dilute, contains six per cent, of absolute acid. Dose 3 j-ij (4.0-8.0). An impure form obtained by the destructive distillation of wood is known as wood vinegar, or pyroligneous acid. A., Acetic, Glacial, the absolute acid occurring in crystals melting at 22. 50 C. It is an escharotic. A., Aconitic, C6H606, occurs in different plants, as Aconittim napellus, sugar cane, and beetroots. It crystallizes in small plates, that di olve readily in alcohol, ether, and water, and melt at iS6°-7°. A., Adipic, C6H10O4, obtained by oxidizing fats with nitric acid. It crystallizes in shining leaflets, or prisms; is soluble in thirteen parts of cold water; melts at 1480. It is dibasic. A., Agaric or Agaricic, C16H30O5 -\- H.20, a resin acid obtained from the fungus Poly ponts officinal is, growing on larch trees. The acid has been recommended for the checking of night sweats. It also checks the other excretions and diminishes thirst. It is mildly cathartic. Unof. A., Aldepalmitic, C16H30O2, the chief component of the butter of the cow.. A., Alloxanic, C4H2N204, a crystalline acid, obtained by treating alloxan with alkalies. A., Amido-acetic. See Glycin. A., Amido-benzoic, C7HTN02, occasionally found in the urine. A., Amido-succinamic, same as Asparagin. A., Angelic, C5H802, a crystalline monobasic acid. It exists free along with valeric and acetic acids in the roots of Angelica archangelic a, and as butyl and amyl esters in Roman oil of cumin. It crystallizes in shining prisms, melts at 45 °, and boils at 1850. It has a peculiar smell and taste. A., Anisic, CsH803, obtained by oxidizing anisol and anethol with HN03, and from aniseed by the action of oxidizing substances. A., Anticylic, a white, fragrant powder with pleasant, acid taste, readily soluble in water, alcohol, and glycerol; it is used as an antipyretic. Dose gr. T^ (.0006). A., Arabic. See Arabin. A., Aromatic, a name applied to certain organic acids occurring in the balsams, resins, and other odoriferous principles. Also, in pharmacy, a dilute mineral acid reinforced by aromatic substances in order to modify its flavor. A., Arsenic, and Arsenous. See Arsenic. A., Aspartic, C4H7NO+, occurs in the vina e obtained from the beet root, and is procured from albuminous bodies in various reactions. It is prepared by boiling asparagin with alkalies and acids, crystallizes in rhombic dibasic prisms, or leaflets, and di olves with difficulty in water. A., Auric, Au(OH)3, gold trihydroxid. A., Benzoic, C-H602, occurs free in some resins, chiefly in gum benzoin, and in coal tar. It crystallizes in white, shining needles, or leaflets, melts at 1200, and distils at 25 o°. It volatilizes readily, its vapor po e ing a peculiar odor. A., Boracic, or Boric. See Boron. A., Butyric, C4H802, an acid having a viscid appearance and rancid smell. It is obtained commercially by the fermentation of a mixture of sugar and butter or cheese in the presence of an alkaline carbonate, but occurs in various plants, in cod-liver oil, in the juice of meats, and in the perspiration. Combined with glycerol as glyceryl butyrate, it is e entially butter. A., Caffeic, C9H804, obtained when the tannin of coffee is boiled with pota ium hydroxid. A., Camphoric, C10H16O4, a dibasic acid, obtained by boiling camphor with HN03; it crystallizes from hot water in colorle leaflets; melts at 1780, and decomposes into water and its an hydrid, C8Hu(CO)20. It is used in night-sweats of phthisis. Dose gr. x-xxx (0.65-2.0). A., Capric, C9H]9CO.OH, occurs in small quantity, as a glycerid in cow’s butter. It crystallizes in fine needles, melting at 300 C, and is very insoluble in boiling water. A., Caproic, C6H1202, the sixth in the series of fatty acids; a clear, mobile oil, colorle , inflammable, and with a very acid and penetrating taste. A., Caprylic, C7H15CO.OH, an acid combined with glycerol, forming a glycerid existing in various animal fats; it is liquid at ordinary temperatures. A., Carbamic, H2N.CO.OH, carbonic acid in which NH2 replaces OH; it is not known in the free state; its ammonium salt is contained in commercial ammonium carbonate. The esters of carbamic acid are called urethanes. A., Carb azotic. See^4, Picric. A., Carbolic, C6H5OH, phenol, — the correct designation of this substance — is procured from coal tar by fractional distillation. Ithas a very peculiar and characteristic odor, a burning taste, is poisonous, and has antiseptic properties. The sp. gr. at o° is 1.084; it crystallizes in colorle rhombic needles that melt at 42. 2°, boiling at 1800, and it is not decomposed upon distillation. At ordinary temperatures it di olves in water with difficulty (i: 15), but is soluble in alcohol, ether, glacial acetic acid, and glycerol, in all proportions. It unites with bases to form salts, known as Carbolates. Upon exposure to light and air it deliquesces and acquires a pinkish color. It is used in the manufacture of many of the artificial coloring matters, e. g., picric acid. It is a powerful antiseptic and germicide. Internally it is useful in vomiting, fermentation in the stomach, and as an intestinal antiseptic; locally, as a caustic. Dose, internally, gr. J^-ij (0.03- 0.13). A. Carb., Aqua, contains 10 drams of the glycerite to I pint of water. Dose gj— ^ (4.0-16.0). A. Carb., Gargarism a, grs. ij- ^ j (o. 13-32.0) for fetid sore throat. A. Carb., Glyceritum, contains acid 1, glycerol 4 parts. A. Carb., ch018.xhtml l 27