Alkaloids
Alkaloids are the class of chemical compounds generally having nitrogen atoms. This class of compounds also have compounds with neutral and weakly acidic properties. Few synthetic elements with similar structure are also called as alkaloids. Along with carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, alkaloids can also constitute oxygen, sulfur and rarely other compounds like chlorine, bromine and phosphorous.
Etymology
The terminology “alkaloids” is coined by German chemist Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Meibner in 1819. Alkaloid term got its derivation from the Latin word alkali which means “ashes of plants” and got it suffix from Greek word “οειδ?ς” meaning alike.
There is no distinct way of naming alkaloids, majority of names are made by adding the suffix word “ine” to the species name.
Alkaloids Properties
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Nearly all alkaloids constitutes oxygen in their chemical structure, and these compounds are usually colorless at ambient conditions.
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Alkaloids which are oxygen free like nicotine and coniine are liquids which is volatile, colorless and oily. Few alkaloids such as berberine and sanguinarine are coloured.
Nearly all alkaloids constitutes oxygen in their chemical structure, and these compounds are usually colorless at ambient conditions.
Alkaloids which are oxygen free like nicotine and coniine are liquids which is volatile, colorless and oily. Few alkaloids such as berberine and sanguinarine are coloured.
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