A punster would say that he was oxidised, at once.

Potassium permanganate, chromic or nitric acid oxidises it to nicotinic acid, C{6}H{5}NO{2}, which is simply pyridine-carboxylic acid, C{5}H{4}N(COOH), and which, distilled over quick-lime, yields pyridine, C{5}H{5}N. Turning now to the non-volatile and oxygenized bases, we take up first the opium alkaloids.