Laboratory Manual for the Detection of Poisons And Powerful Drugs

Excerpt from the book: “Salicylic acid, or ortho-oxy benzonic acid, crystallizes in long, white needles soluble in about 500 parts of cold and in 15 parts of boiling water; and freely soluble in ethyl alcohol, either, chloroform and carbon disulphide. It has a peculiar taste which is sweetish, acidulous and rather acrid. Heated carefully, salicylic acid will sublime in five needles without decomposition. A little of the acid may show this behavior even upon the water-bath. If heated quickly, sal