( 626 ) 
contained in a measuring flask, 20 ce. of N./, H NO; were added 
and the whole kept for 24 hours at 60°. The acid was then 
neutralized with lye and the liquid was diluted to the mark. 
I made sure about the completeness of the inversion by a polar- 
iscopic test. 
Operating in this manner, the liquid contains but little Na NO3; 
the presence of salts should be avoided as, according to SPOHR’s 
experiments they exercise a great influence on the saponification- 
velocity of ethyl acetate by Na OH. 
To be more sure, I inverted a second solution with a trace of 
oxalic acid: the figures which I obtained afterwards on saponification 
were identical with those given by the solution inverted with H NO. 
Both the solutions were, therefore, used in the further saponification 
experiments. I have studied closer an additional phenomenon which 
might have been of influence on the experiments where invert-sugar 
or d-glucose and d-fructose were used. 
Lopry DE BRUYN and ALBERDA VAN EKENSTEIN !) when studying 
the action of dilute alkalis on carbohydrates have found that d-glu- 
cose and d-fructose undergo decomposition even by dilute solutions 
of NaOH. A portion of the added NaOH disappears as it gets 
neutralized by the organic acids which are formed. The decompo- 
sition was very plainly observable at 63° after a short time, when 
N./;, NaOH was used. 
It, therefore, became necessary to ascertain in how far a similar 
secondary reaction may interfere here at 25° C. during the time 
my observations lasted. 
For that purpose, I mixed in a flask: 50 ec. N.2!/, invert-sugar, 
25 ce. of water and 25 ce. of N./jo NaOH and kept the mixture 
in a thermostat at 25° C. From time to time, the alkalinity was 
determined by titrating 10 ee. with N./4, acid. 
After 80 minutes 0.2 ec. of N./4) NaOH were assumed. 
. 250 » 408 Geer, Na Na OM 4 
20 aad Per Ne NaOH 
n ” 
As in our case the experiments are finished within 150 minutes, 
the secondary action is not likely to influence the general result. 
1) Rec. des Tray. chim. des Pays-Bas. 14, 156, 203 (1895). 
