English

Noun

purpuric acid ‎(uncountable)

1. (chemistry) C₈H₅N₅O₆, a nitrogenous acid that yields alloxan and uramil when hydrolysed, known for its purple salts.

Usage notes

At first, the name was applied to a "substance discovered by Prout, which had neither a purple colour, nor possessed acid properties, but it was so named, because it was extracted, by means of an acid, from purpurate of ammonia", and its composition was thought to be H₈C₁₆O₁₀N₁₀ (as reported in the London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, volume XV, July—December 1839, Daid Brewster, Richard Taylor, Richard Phillips, eds, page 491).

Translations

See also

• murexide, its ammonium salt