CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CHANGES IN GELATIN SOLUTIONS DURING HYDROLYSIS

1. The change in viscosity and the corresponding increase in the carboxyl groups, as determined by the formol titration, has been determined in gelatin solutions during the progress of hydrolysis by pepsin. 2. Very marked changes in viscosity are found to result from very slight chemical changes. If the viscosity is increased by the addition of acid a greater change in viscosity (volume of solute) is caused by the same percentage change in the number of carboxyl groups. The percentage change in the volume of solute, caused by the same percentage increase in the number of carboxyl groups, is independent of the concentration of gelatin. 3. These results are in agreement with the idea that the high viscosity of gelatin solutions is due to the presence of swollen micells, since a slight chemical hydrolysis may be sufficient to rupture a micella and so cause a very large change in viscosity.