DESCRIPTION

Caffeine occurs as a white powder or as white, glistening needles, usually matted together. It may be compacted or compressed into free-flowing granules or pellets. It is odorless and has a bitter taste. Caffeine is anhydrous or contains one molecule of water of hydration. Its solutions are neutral to litmus. The melting range of the dried (80° for 4 h) form is approximately 235°–238°. The hydrate is efflorescent in air, and 1 g is soluble in about 50 mL of water, in 75 mL of alcohol, in about 6 mL of chloroform, and in 600 mL of ether.