Examination of the stability of chloral hydrate and its preparation by capillary electrophoresis

Stabilities of chloral hydrate in an aqueous solution and its medicated syr up were examined by high performance capillary electrophoresis. Analysis of the concentration of chloral hydrate indicated that there was no obvious c hange in the concentration of chloral hydrate both in the aqueous solution and in the syrup preparation after keeping them for 3 months at room temper ature or at 60 degrees C. The lowering of pH was more obvious in the syrup solution than in the aqueous solution, and this tendency was estimated to b e due to the formation of hydrochloric acid. We propose that the stabilitie s of the preparation of chloral hydrate should be monitored by observing pH changes.