Alkaloids. The names of the organic bases which resemble the alkalies in their properties end either in -IA, -NA, or -INE; as, morphIA, quiNA, strychnINE. These terminations are now limited, as much as possible, to substances exhibiting basic properties, but were formerly very loosely applied.
Many chemists reject the first two terminations, and apply -INE to every substance of this class; as, morphINE, quinINE, anilINE, &c.
Other organic substances. The names of organic radicles generally terminate in -YL; as, ethYL, methYL, benzOYL, &c.; they mostly contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Compounds corresponding to the electro-negative elements have the termination -OGEN, as cyanOGEN, amidOGEN. Neutral compounds of carbon and hydrogen, mostly liquid, have the termination -OL, or -OLE; as, benzOL, pyrOLE. Other neutral substances, generally solid, have the termination -IN; as, paraffIN, naphthalIN. Compounds resembling ammonia, and generally considered as ‘substitution compounds’ of that body, terminate in -AMINE; as, ethylAMINE, propylAMINE.
The Latin genitive or possessive of the above compounds in—
| -as | is | -atis |
| -is | ” | -itis |
| -icum | ” | -ici |
| -osum | ” | -osi |
| -idum | ” | -idi |
| -etum | ” | -eti |
| -ium | ” | -ii |
| -um | ” | -i |
| -ia -a -na | ” | -æ |
Ex. Acetas (acetate), acetatis of acetate; arsenis, arsenitis; citricum, citrici; arseniosum, arseniosi; iodidum, iodidi; sulphuretum, sulphureti; sodium, sodii; platinum, platini; morphia, morphiæ; quina, quinæ;
narcotina, narcotinæ. The genitives of common names vary with the termination. Most of those ending in -a make æ, and most of those in -us and -um make -i; but there are many exceptions, among which cornu (a horn) and spiritus (spirit) which are unaltered in the genitive singular, may be mentioned as examples.
NORFOLK FLUID. Prep. Take of linseed oil, 3 pints; black resin, 1⁄2 lb.; yellow wax, 12 oz.; melt, and add, of neat’s-foot oil, 1 quart; oil of turpentine, 1 pint. Used to preserve and soften leather.
NOR′IUM. An unexamined metal, the oxide of which, according to Svanberg, exists in certain varieties of ZIRCON.
NOS′TRUMS. See Patent Medicines, &c.