658 The Philippine Journal of Science 1921 
When the reaction is catalyzed by — pe , the acetic acid 
is directly attacked, forming: 
Oc H- 
mC — C 
0 
i 
in which the electrons of the double bond are drawn forcibly 
away from the carbon atom. It is therefore a very reasonable 
assumption that a large number of these catalyzed molecules 
take the half-dissociated form: 
H 
| 
sr LG 
HsC ide 
O 
| 
H 
It is to be noted that the carbon atom becomes very unsatu- 
rated, having now two vacancies in its shell. It therefore is 
very reactive, and an addition product with alcohol is formed: 
H 
| 
O 
Compound A ba 
H3C — C » O — GH; 
| 
O°>#R 
H 
Again the first compound is unstable. The accumulation of 
positive charge near the alcohol oxygen releases the attached 
+ 
hydrogen as — H — giving: 
