J46 SACCHOLACTIC ACID CONVERTED INTO SUCCINIC. 



except the sue- But to the succinic acid it is perfectly similar in taste, 



C1U1C - , solubility, &c. 



The liquid in A brown liquid, that passed over into the receiver with 



the receiver ^ bu kjj me( ] acid, still remains to be examined. When it 

 examined. 



is saturated with soda, and slowly evaporated, a reddish 



brown saline ma>s is obtained. Part of this being mixed 



with concentrated sulphuric acid, no smell of acetic acid 



was emitted. The remaindtr of this neutral mass being 



dissolved in boiling water and filtered, a thick, black, em- 



pyreumatic oil remained on the filter. The filtered liquid 



was precipitated by acetatt of lead, and this precipitate 



was decomposed by sulphuric acid. The liquid separated 



from the sulphate of lead had the following properties. 



Properties of 1. It precipitates the acetate of lead white. 



the acid a con- 2 By saturation with carbonate of potash, its colour is 

 tamed. \ r 



rendered deeper. 



3. The neutral solution forms with muriate of lime, after 

 some time, a precipitate, that has a saline aspect. 



4. With nitrate of barytes it gives a slight precipitate, 

 soluble in nitric acid : 



5. With the nitrate of silver, or of mercury, a copious 

 precipitate: 



6. And with the nitrate of copper a dirty green precipi- 

 tate : 



The pyrotarta- These experiments seem to show, that the acid liquid 

 ric « contains the pyrotartaric acid of Rose. 



Recapitulation. 



General con- The saccholactic acid appears to contain carbon, hidro- 

 clusions. g erjj an( j ox }tr en; but no nitrogen, for during its distillation 



in the dry way neither ammonia nor prussic acid is formed. 

 The saccholactic acid is decomposed by dry distillation, 

 and yields succinic acid, pyrotartaric acid contaminated 

 with an empyreumatic oil, a little acetic acid, and a great 

 deal of carbonic acid gas, with a very small quantity of car- 

 bur etted hidrogen gas. 



It is probable, that the succinic acid contains a larger 

 quantity of hidrogen, and less carbon, than the saccholactic 

 acid. The latter does not inflame, till the moment it be- 

 gins to be decomposed, while the succinic acid is very in- 

 flammable. 



