48 Dr. Debus on the Action of Nitric Acid 



and (Gly) . 01 (.^jj^ ^^^^ 



HH . OJ -^ ^ 



(Gly)^ 0^^^^^^^.^ ^^^^ 



HH . OJ 



(Gly)3.01 , 



HH . OJ 

 in the same way as carboxyle, oxalyle, &c. enter the type water, 

 viz.— CO = Carboxyle, 



(CO) . HH . O = Formic acid, 



(C2 H^) . HH . = Alcohol, 



CO. 



HH. 



}= Carbonic acid, 



^ ' ' > = Oxalic acid, 

 HH . OJ 



^ ■' ■ > = Mesoxalic acid, 

 H.H.OJ 



H . H . OJ ^ 



Glycolic acid which contains (Gly) is monobasic, malic acid 

 with (Gly)^ is bibasic, and citric acid containing (Gly)^ is tribasic. 



The decompositions of glycolic, malic, and citric acids agree 

 with the above view. On application of heat the following 

 changes take place : — 



(Gly)3HH0-HH0 = (Gly)a = C^HSO^ 



Citric acid. Aconitic acid. 



(Gly)2HHO-HHO = (G]y)2 = C^H^O'* 



Malic acid. Maleic acid. 



(Gly) HHO-HHO = (Gly) = C^H^O^ 



Glycolic acid. Glycolid. 



It is interesting to notice that these acids, on the loss of HHO, 

 do not diminish in their basicity ; aconitic acid is still tribasic, 

 maleic acid bibasic ; and although it is not established by expe- 

 riment, it is highly probable that glycolid is still monobasic. 

 C6HC0« - C02 = C^HSO* 



Aconitic acid. Itaconic acid. 



C4H4 04 _ co^ = C^H^O^ 



Maleic acid. Lactid. 



