Legal Chemistry: A Guide to the Detection of Poisons, Examination of Tea, Stains, Etc., as Applied to Chemical JurisprudenceNaquet, Alfred
Science
Legal Chemistry: A Guide to the Detection of Poisons, Examination of Tea, Stains, Etc., as Applied to Chemical Jurisprudence
Naquet, Alfred
Chemistry, Forensic; Poisons
The aqueous solution is evaporated to dryness, the residue taken up
with alcohol of 44° B., the fluid again evaporated, and the second
residue dissolved in water. Upon adding acetate of lead to the solution,
a white precipitate is produced if phosphoric acid be present. The
precipitate is washed, suspended in water and a current of sulphuretted
hydrogen passed through the mixture. If the fluid is then filtered, and
the excess of sulphuretted hydrogen expelled from the filtrate by
boiling, a liquid possessing the distinctive properties of a solution of
phosphoric acid will be obtained. This should then be submitted to the
following tests: Some pulverized charcoal is added to a portion of the
solution, the mixture evaporated to dryness, and the residue obtained
introduced into a Hessian crucible heated to redness: in presence of a
considerable amount of the acid, free phosphorous is liberated and burns
with a bright flame in the upper part of the crucible. In case this
reaction fails to occur, other portions of the fluid are treated with a
solution of a baryta salt, which causes a white precipitate, soluble in
nitric acid; with an ammoniated solution of sulphate of magnesia, which
throws down a crystalline white precipitate; and by boiling with
molybdate of ammonia, acidulated with nitric acid, which produces a
yellow precipitation, or at least a yellow coloration of the solution.
OXALIC ACID.
The solution is subjected to the same treatment as in the search for
phosphoric acid, with the exception that, instead of adding acetate of
lead to the fluid obtained by taking up the residue left from the
alcohol with water, it is divided into two portions which are examined
separately. A solution of a lime salt is added to one portion: if oxalic
acid be present, a precipitate, which is insoluble in acetic acid or in
chloride of ammonium, and effervesces when slightly calcined and treated
with hydrochloric acid, is formed. Nitrate of silver is added to the
remaining portion of the solution: the formation of a precipitate, which
detonates when dried and heated in a glass tube closed at one end, is
further evidence of the presence of the acid.
ACETIC ACID.
The solution obtained by treating the alimentary canal with water is
distilled, as in testing for nitric and hydrochloric acids, and the
following properties verified in the distillate: 1st. It has an acid
reaction, and possesses the odor of vinegar; 2nd, unless previously
neutralized with a base, it fails to redden the per-salts of iron; 3rd,
if the distillate is added to a solution of the per-salts mentioned and
sulphuretted hydrogen conducted through the fluid, a black precipitate
is formed; 4th, upon boiling the still acid fluid with a small quantity
of starch, the property of the latter to become colored in presence of
free iodine is not changed; 5th, if heated with an excess of litharge, a
basic salt which restores the blue color to reddened litmus paper is
produced.
HYDROCYANIC ACID.
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