SACLACTIC ACID. 147 



that in the saclactate of soda they must have 

 been in combination with an atom of soda, the 

 equivalent for which is 4 grains. The remaining 

 5'65 grains, still remaining to make up the 

 weight of the salt, must have been water ; and 

 this weight is equivalent to 5 atoms water. 

 Thus it appears, that saclactate of soda is com- 

 posed as follows : 



1 atom saclactic acid 13 

 1 atom soda 4 



5 atoms water 5-625 



22'625 



It is obvious that 13 represents the atomic At <> of 



saclactic 



weight of this acid. acid. 



2. Berzelius analyzed saclactic acid by the 

 same process as the other vegetable acids. 1 part 

 of saclactate of lead, equivalent to O4814 of sac- acid> 

 lactic acid, when burned with chlorate of potash, 

 gave out O21 water, equivalent to 0*0233 hydro- 

 gen; and 0'594 carbonic acid, equivalent to 

 0-1620 carbon.* From this it follows, that the 

 constituents of saclactic acid are 



Hydrogen . . 0-0233 or 0-6292 

 Carbon . . 0-1620 - 4-3747 



Oxygen . . 0-2961 - 7 '9961 



0-4814 13-0000 



Annals of Philosophy, V. 180. 

 K2 





