The Ionization of Protein Chlorides

1. By the use of the silver-silver chloride electrode, measurements have been made of the chloride ion concentrations of 1 per cent solutions of five proteins, containing from 0.001 N to 0.1 N hydrochloric acid. The hydrogen ion concentrations of the same solutions have been measured by the use of the hydrogen electrode. 2. The measurements indicate that the chlorides of gelatin, egg albumin, casein, edestin, and serum globulin are highly ionized electrolytes, ionizing to yield chloride ion and a positive protein-hydrogen ion. Their ionization is therefore similar to that of ammonium chloride. 3. The results do not support the idea that a protein chloride does not yield chloride ion on dissociation. They are not in agreement with the idea that the depressing effect of an excess of HCl on the viscosity and other colloidal properties of a protein chloride solution is due to a repression of the ionization of the protein chloride. The results are, however, in complete accord with the theory of colloidal behavior advocated by Loeb.