286 MM. Wurtz and Kolbe on the Constitution of Lactic Acid. 



of peroxide of hydrogen for hydrogen, and that lactic acid is a 

 monobasic acid. On Kolbe's view the relation between these 

 acids may be thus written : — 



Acetic acid. Glycolic acid. 



(C^ H^) C^ 0^ 0, HO. (^'ho^)c' 0^ 0, HO. 



Propionic acid. Lactic acid. 



(C H5) C2 0^ . HO. (^*HoO^' ^'' ^ ' ^^' 



lu a second communication on the subject of lactic acid, 

 Wurtz* seeks principally to prove that lactic acid is bibasic. 

 All chemists are agreed that it contains 6 atoms of carbon (C = 6). 

 The view that lactic acid is bibasic, is supported by the existence 

 of lactates which have the general formula C' H"* M'^ O**". A lac- 

 tate of tin of this formula has been described by Briining. A 

 further proof Wurtz finds in the composition of lactic ether which 

 he has discovered. This is obtained by the action of chlorolactic 

 ether (chloropropionic ether) on ethylate of soda, 



C^H^/0 + Na/^ = (C4H5)2|0HNaCl. 

 CI Ethylate of soda. Lactic ether. 



Chlorolactic ether. 



A quantity of sodium corresponding to the chlorolactic ether 

 taken is dissolved in absolute alcohol, and the chlorolactic ether 

 gradually added — a brisk reaction is at once set up, and chloride 

 of sodium is precipitated. The product is heated, and the distil- 

 late above 150° collected and then rectified. 



Lactic ether is a transparent, mobile liquid, with an etherial 

 odour. It boils at 156°' 5. It is insoluble in water, but deci- 

 dedly soluble in alcohol. The analyses as well as determinations 

 of the vapour- density gave numbers closely agreeing with those 

 required by the formula. By the action of ammonia on lactic 

 ether, a body is obtained crystallizing in beautiful plates ; this is 

 lactamethane or lactamic ether, 



CioHu N04=(^''^'^')' C^H^l^'^ 



C^ H'* 0^~1 

 it stands in the same relation to lactic acid, -^^ > 0*, as 



oxamcthane, ^ r"*H'' f" ^^' *'*^ oxalic acid, tts rO'*- 



Although, ordinarily, lactates only exchange one atom of hy- 

 drogen for a metal, yet the existence of lactic ether and the com- 

 position of certain lactates leave no doubt as to its composition. 

 * Bulletin de la Soci^t4 Chimique de Pans, May 13. 



