Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/402

LEFT GLYCERAMINE 338 GLYOXALIC ACID tralized by ammonia, and the calcium salt is then decomposed by carbon dio- xide. GLYCERAMINE (gli-ser'a-min), in chemistry, a base obtained by passing ammonia gas into a solution of dibrom- hydrin CHs'" (OH) Brj in absolute al- cohol. Glyceramine is a liquid soluble in water and in ether. GLYCERIA, in botany, manna grass, a genus of grasses, tribe Festucse, family Broinidse. The glumes are con- vex, five to seven nerved, the tip acute or obtuse. GLYCERIN, or GLYCERINE, a triatomic alcohol of the fatty series, CoHgOa, or CH2 (0H-)-CH(0H)-CH2 (OH). Glycerin was discovered in 1778 by Scheele, who obtained it in the prep- aration of lead plaster by saponifying lard with oxides of lead. Glycerin occurs in most natural animal and vegetable fats in combination with fatty acids, from which it can be obtained by saponi- fying with alkalies. It is also formed during the alcoholic fermentation of sugar. Pure glycerin is obtained by heat- ing neutral fats in a still, with a con- densing apparatus, and passing steam in small jets through the melted fat, the temperature being kept below 600° F., and above 550° F.; the fat acids separate out in the receivers from the glycerin and water; the glycerin is then concen- trated by evaporation. Glycerin is a thick, colorless, inodorous, neutral syrup, which has a very sweet taste; it mixes with water in all proportions, is soluble in alcohol and in chloroform, but insolu- ble in ether. Glycerin distilled with phosphorous pentachloride, P2CIB, yields acrolein. By the action of a mixture of equal parts of concentrated nitric acid and sulphuric acid, it is converted into Nitroglycerin, CH^-O • (NO^-) • CH • O (NO,) •CH.-0(NO.) {q. v.). Glycerin is used for preserving fruits, also as a solvent for various salts, and ir prepar- ing copying-ink; also as a lubricator for machinery and clockwork, and is placed over water in gas meters to prevent freezing, and is used for filling floating compasses. It is employed in the form of nitroglycerin in the preparation of dynamite, and for mixing with soap to form glycerin soap, which tends to soften the skin. Glycerin is used on account of its physi- cal properties as an adjunct to lotions in skin diseases to prevent the surface be- coming dry. It can be used as a sub- stitute for sugar in the diet of diabetic patients. GLYCERYL OXIDE, in chemistry, glyceryl ether {CMo)zOz. It is obtained by distilling glycerin with calcium chlo ride. It is a colorless oily liquid, boiling at 172°. It mixes with water, alcohol, and ether. GLYCINE (glis'i-ne), in botany, the typical genus of the sub-tribe Glycerbieai the species, all but one of which are de- cumbent if not even twining, have alter- nate leaves with axillary racemes or fas- cicles of yellow flowers. Locality, the warmer parts of the Old World. G. soja, the erect species alluded to, is cultivated in the East Indies for its beans. From these the Japanese make a sauce called sooja or soy. GLYCOCHOLIC ACID, an acid occur- ring as a sodium salt in the bile of most animals. It is obtained by covering fresh bile in a tall glass cylinder with a layer of ether, and adding 1 c. c. of strong HCl. to every 50 c. c. of bile; in a few days a crystalline mass is formed, which is filtered, washed with cold water, and crystalled out of boiling water; it forms fine nedles, which melt at 100°, and are soluble in alcohol; when boiled with barito water it is decomposed into cholic acid and glycocine, C2aH4, N0o-|- H.p = C24H40O5 -f C.HcNO^. Glycocholic acid forms salts which are called glyco- cholates, the glycocholates of the alkalies and earth metals are soluble in water and in alcohol. Glycocholate of sodium is pre- cipitated from its alcoholic solution by ether; acetate of lead gives a precipitate which is soluble in alcohol. GLYCODRUPOSE (gli-ko-dro'), in chemistry, the strong concretions in pears, produced by thickening and hard- ening of the cell walls, consists of this substance, together with a small quantity of mineral matter, which is removed by digesting them with dilute acetic acid. GLYN, ELINOR, (MRS. CLAYTON), an English novelist, the daughter of Douglas Sutherland, of Toronto, Ontario. In 1892, she married Clayton Glyn, of Kent, England. Mrs. Clayton first at- tracted wide attention by the publication of her book, "Three Weeks" (1907), a work which produced a sensation by its suggestive qualities. Among her other works are; "Visits of Elizabeth" (1900) ; "The Damsel and the Sage" (1903) ; "De- struction" (1919). GLYOXALIC ACID, also called gly- oxylic acid, C2H2O3 or CO -OH a dyad compound, containing an aldehyde and an acid radical. Obtained along with glyoxal by oxidation of ethyl-alcohol with nitric acid; also by heating at 140° one part of dichloracetic acid, CHCU-COOH with 10 parts of water for 24 hours: Glyoxalic acid is a thick syrup, which