The ir absorption spectra of com. preparations of D-penicillamine [52-67-5] suggested the occurrence of 2 different crystal forms.The form corresponding to that of the United States Food and Drug Administration authentic specimen, polymorph II, had an absorption peak at 1092 cm-1 that was more intense than the adjacent peaks at ∼1050 and 1160 cm-1.In contrast, the other form, polymorph I, had a min. between peaks at 1078 and 1101 cm-1, that were less intense than the adjacent peaks at ∼1050 and 1160 cm-1.Both polymorphs were seen as anisotropic crystals under the polarizing microscope, I as needles and II as plates.X-ray powder diffraction anal. confirmed that forms I and II were different crystalline phases.