Alkaline solution

“ The effect of alkali depends upon the temperature to a very marked degree. Osborne has recently reinvestigated this matter and finds that in the presence of a 0.1N solution of alkali at 20°C. there is very little destruction but that raising the temperature to 90°C. brings about a marked destruction. Seidell has shown that if the vitamine is absorbed by Lloyd's reagent and this reagent be then extracted with dilute alkali the vitamine passes into the alkaline solution. ”

“ If the alkaline solution be titrated with a strong acid, the hydrions present in a very small amount of the acid suffices to reverse the colour; a weak acid, however, must be added in considerable excess of the quantity properly required to neutralize the solution, owing to its weak dissociation. This indicator is therefore only useful when strong acids are being dealt with, while its strongly acid nature renders it serviceable for both strong and weak bases. ”

“ Such a method of systematic analysis in acid solution is frequently more direct and more convenient than a method based on the removal of cations other than the alkali metal ions. Almost all of the most characteristic tests for anions, as it is, are carried out in acid solutions, and only a very few good tests, which must be made in neutral or alkaline solution, are sacrificed by placing the emphasis on those carried out in acid solutions. ”

“ If a solution of potassium hydroxide be added to a solution of auric chloride, a precipitate is first formed, which re-dissolves in an excess of the alkali. On being evaporated under the receiver of an air-pump, this solution yields yellow crystals, which present the same composition as the double salts AuMCl4, with the substitution of the chlorine by oxygen—that is to say, potassium aurate, AuKO2, is formed in crystals containing 3H2O. The solution has a distinctly alkaline reaction. Auric oxide, Au2O3, separates when this alkaline solution is boiled with an excess of sulphuric acid. ”

“ As the sulphates of ammonia, of nicotine, aniline, quinoleine, picoline, and petinine, are entirely insoluble in ether, the water acidulated with sulphuric acid contains the alkaloid in a small bulk, and in the state of a pure sulphate; but as the sulphate of conia is soluble in ether, the ether may contain a small quantity of this alkali, but the greater part remains in the acidulated watery solution. The ether, on the other hand, retains all the animal matters which it has taken from the alkaline solutions. ”

“ An excess of alkali is present, however, as the solution has an alkaline reaction. Each “heaping teaspoonful” (which was found to be about 4.85 Gm.) contains about 0.044 Gm. of caffein (the manufacturers claim 0.0648 Gm. per heaping teaspoonful) . As taken, Alkalithia, therefore, represents caffein in a solution of alkali tartrate, citrate and bicarbonate containing free carbonic acid. If it is assumed that all of the tartrate and citrate in Alkalithia is converted into carbonate in the organism, a “heaping teaspoonful” of Alkalithia would represent about 2.9 Gm. of sodium bicarbonate. ”

“ Oxidation in acid solutions gives compounds classed as “oxycelluloses,” insoluble in water, but more or less soluble in alkalis; continued oxidation gives formic, acetic and carbonic acids. Oxidation in alkaline solution is more easily controlled and limited; solutions of bleaching powder, or more generally of alkaline hydrochlorites, receive industrial application in oxidizing the coloured impurities of the fibre, or residues left after more or less severe alkali treatments, leaving the cellulose practically unaffected. ”

“ It is then dissolved in 5 per cent sodium hydroxide solution, filtered from any chromium hydroxide remaining, and also from unchanged nitrotoluene. The filtrate, which should be light yellow or greenish in color, is acidified with dilute sulfuric acid, with stirring. It is usually preferable to run the alkaline solution into the dilute sulfuric acid, rather than to use the reverse procedure, for the precipitation of the nitro acid. The precipitated product is filtered with suction, washed thoroughly, and dried. The product should possess only a light-lemon color. The yield should be 230-240 g. ”

“ It is frequently used as a reducing agent: in acid solutions it reduces ferric to ferrous salts, arsenates to arsenites, permanganate's to manganous salts, &c., whilst in alkaline solution it converts many organic nitro compounds into the corresponding amino derivatives. Oxidizing agents rapidly attack sulphuretted hydrogen, the primary products of the reaction being- water and sulphur. ”

“ They may be prepared by the reduction of nitro compounds in alkaline solution (using zinc dust and alkali, or a solution of an alkaline stannite as a reducing agent) ; by oxidation of hydrazo compounds; or by the coupling of a diazotized amine and any compound of a phenolic or aminic type, provided that there is a free para position in the amine or phenol. They may also be obtained by the molecular rearrangement of the diazoamines, when these are warmed with the parent base and its hydrochloride. ”

“ The difference between the quantity of the solution of the test-alkali and of the test-acid consumed, expresses the exact quantity of acid neutralised by the alkali, and hence also its strength.
Besides the above methods, the alkaline carbonates are analysed, by the loss of carbonic anhydride (carbonic acid) they suffer, by being decomposed by a strong acid. The best method in use is that of MM. Fresenius and Will, and depends on the same principle, and is performed in a similar manner and in a similar apparatus to that described under Acidimetry ”

“ It is soluble in 5 parts of absolute alcohol, in 13 of ether, and in 1400 (1800, Walz) of boiling water, the solution in each case having a decidedly alkaline reaction on litmus. It dissolves readily in bisulphide of carbon, as well as in dilute acids. The salts hitherto known are uncrystallizable. The solution of a neutral acetate affords an abundant white precipitate on the addition of an alkaline phosphate, nitrate or iodide, of iodohydrargyrate or platino-cyanide of potassium, perchloride of mercury, or of nitric or iodic acid. ”

“ It begins, however, not with ready-made ammonium bicarbonate, but with the substances from which it is formed—ammonia, water and carbon dioxide—which are made to act on sodium chloride. In practice the process is carried out as follows. A nearly saturated solution of sodium chloride is obtained by purifying natural or artificial brine, i.e. an impure solution of common salt, especially removing the alkaline earths and so forth by addition of sodium or ammonium carbonate and settling out the precipitate formed. ”

“ When lime and magnesia are employed, they are boiled for a few minutes with the solution.
Props. Alcoholic or aqueous solutions of the alkaloids generally exhibit an alkaline reaction with vegetable colours. Like the alkalies, also, they combine with acids to form salts which, when dissolved in water, are capable of producing the ordinary phenomena of saline double decomposition. Their taste is usually intensely bitter.
The majority of the natural alkaloids contain carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, and are, at ordinary temperatures, solid, and not volatile without decomposition. ”

“ The Diaphragm process is probably the only one employed at present for the decomposition of potassium chloride, and it is also used for sodium chloride. A hot, concentrated solution of the alkaline chloride is treated by the electric current in large iron tanks which at the same time serve as cathodes. The anodes are made of retort-carbon or other chlorine-resisting material, and they are mounted in cells which serve as diaphragms. The material of these cells is usually cement, mixed with certain soluble salts which impart sufficient porosity to the material. ”

“ The mass fuses to a colorless, viscous liquid, becoming glassy when cooled and is readily soluble in a hot very dilute solution of nitric acid. The solution transferred to a beaker is made distinctly alkaline with ammonia and carefully neutralized with acetic acid, diluted with hot water, boiled, and the precipitate allowed to settle, after which it is separated by filtration. ”

“ As methyl orange is not affected by carbonic acid, bicarbonates of alkaline earths have an alkaline reaction, and may be estimated in solution by standard acid like the alkalies themselves. 100 c.c., or in soft waters 200 c.c., of the water is measured into a beaker, a drop or two of solution of methyl orange added, and decinormal hydrochloric or sulphuric acid run in from the burette with constant stirring till the colour just changes to pink. ”

“ It dissolves in 16 parts of cold water and about 3 of boiling, and is very soluble in solutions of the alkaline chlorides; it dissolves also in ether, and can be, to a great extent, withdrawn from aqueous solutions by this agent. Alcohol dissolves nearly one-third its weight of the salt, and its own weight when boiling. It combines with albumen; gives, when in solution, a [636] precipitate of mercuric oxide when tested with solution of potash; a white precipitate with ammonia; a scarlet with iodide of potassium; and a black precipitate of finely divided mercury with protochloride of tin. ”

“ Alkalies for escharotic use are prepared like other alkalies by straining alkaline solutions as elsewhere explained in detail. They are made of three strengths, namely, weak, moderate and strong. He who wishes to prepare alkalies should in an auspicious day in autumn, fasting and in pure body, select a middle-aged, large-sized, uninjured ghantāpātali tree with black flowers (Schrebera swietenioides) growing on an approved spot on a mountain, and address it with certain mantras or incantations as a preliminary ceremony called adhivāsa. ”

“ When great accuracy is required in conducting the neutralisation of the solution in estimating volumetrically with litmus as an indicator, it is proper to prepare and keep standard solutions of sulphuric acid and oxalic acid, with which occasionally to try the alkaline test-liquor. The only difficulty in the process is to avoid over-saturation of the acid-sample. Great care must be taken not to exceed the precise point of neutralisation of the acid. ”

“ The liquid to be tested is made strongly alkaline with pure sodic or potassic hydrate placed in a flask connected with a tube dipping into a 4 per cent. solution of silver nitrate, a few pieces of sheet aluminium added, and the flask gently heated; any arsine present will reduce the silver. ”

“ To the mother-water add gradually with constant stirring solution of soda, until the liquid becomes alkaline. Collect on a filter the precipitate formed, wash it with water, and dry it. Then wash it with successive small portions of alcohol to remove other alkaloids which may be present, mix the residue with 8 times its weight of water, and having heated the mixture, add gradually diluted sulphuric acid until it is neutralised and becomes clear. Then boil the liquid with animal charcoal, filter it while hot, and set it aside to crystallise. ”

“ The alkalies must be gradually discontinued, but the quinia continued. The diet should consist of beef tea or broth, with bread and milk; no solid food should be allowed. Woolen cloths, moistened with alkaline solutions, may with advantage be applied to the affected joints. To these laudanum may be added for its anodyne effect. The patient must be sedulously protected from vicissitudes of the temperature and be in bed between blankets. The alkaline treatment relieves the pain, abates the fever, and saves the heart by lessening the amount of fibrin in the blood. ”

“ Colorless, transparent crystals or white, granular powder, odorless and having a saline, slightly alkaline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:2.8) and almost insoluble in alcohol.
Action and Uses: Mild alkali; similar to sodium bicarbonate, but without advantage over the latter.
Dosage: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.) .
Liquor Antisepticus Alkalinus (Liq. Antisept. Alk.) , Alkaline Antiseptic Solution, N.F.—Potassium bicarbonate (3.2%) , sodium borate (3.2%) and sodium benzoate (0.8%) with thymol, eucalyptol, oil of peppermint, methyl salicylate and cudbear in alcohol, glycerin and water. ”

“ Alkali should naturally be present to neutralize it, for it is unnatural to have a large excess of acid in the secretions, or any excess in the blood. We thus administer alkalies on the restorative principle. They are not always excreted; but whether excreted or not, they tend to render the secretions neutral and alkaline by increasing the quantity of basic matter in the system. Alkalies being more stable than acids, and being more invariably secreted by the kidneys, it is more easy to render the urine alkaline than to make it acid. ”

“ It has been shown that the antiscorbutic vitamine is peculiarly sensitive to the faintest alkaline reaction, in which medium it rapidly undergoes deterioration, and even total destruction if heat is applied. Proprietary foods, with but few exceptions, are alkaline, having been rendered so by the addition of potassium carbonate or bicarbonate, in order to prevent acid fermentation of the fat and to counterbalance the relative poverty of potassium in cow’s milk. ”

“ The access of oxygen is in all cases easy to account for, but it must also be shown how the alkaline reaction is to be produced. We need not expect to find in animal organisms potash, soda, ammonia, and the other common alkalies; but it was established by experiment that the alkaline organic compounds cholin and neurin, which are present in animal tissues, would also serve to bring about the phenomenon of phosphorescence in the substances on which the experiments were made. ”