148 OXYPROPIONIC ACIDS. 



dissolved in boiling waler and decomposed with sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen. The liquid filtered from zinc 

 sulphide is evaporated on a water-bath. The acid thus 

 obtained still contains mannite, as an impurity. It is 

 separated from this by dissolving the residue in a little 

 water and agitating with ether in which mannite is 

 insoluble, and, after the separation of the two liquids, 

 evaporating the ethereal solution. 



Colorless, syrupy liquid, of 1.215 specific gravity ; 

 mixes with water, alcohol, and ether in all proportions. 

 Not volatile without decomposition. Is decomposed by 

 distillation into water, aldehyde, carbonic oxide, and 

 lactide. When heated with dilute sulphuric acid to 

 130, it is decomposed into aldehyde and formic acid. 

 It is reduced by means of hydriodic acid, most readily 

 by distillation with phosphorus iodide and a little 

 water, to propionic acid. Heated with hydrobromic 

 acid it is transformed into brompropionic acid. By 

 oxidation with chromic acid, acetic and formic acids 

 are formed. 



The lactates of the alkalies do not crystallize. 



Calcium lactate, (C 3 H 5 3 ) 2 Ca + 5H 2 0. White 

 needles in verrucose combinations. Very easily solu- 

 ble in hot water and alcohol, more difficultly in cold 

 water (9 J parts). 



Zinc lactate, (C 3 H 5 3 ) 2 Zn + 3H 2 0. Lustrous needles, 

 or small crystals, in crusty formations, soluble in 6 

 parts hot and 58 parts cold water. Insoluble in alcohol. 



Iron lactate, (C 3 H 5 3 ) 2 Fe + 3H 2 0. Can be prepared, 

 like the zinc salt, directly from milk whey and iron 

 filings; crystallizes in fine prisms, united together, 

 forming an almost colorless crust ; is difficultly soluble, 

 and in solution undergoes a change in the air. 



iOTT 

 CO C 2 H 5 results fro 



ing lactic acid with alcohol to 170. Neutral liquid 

 boiling at 156, which, in contact with water, is 

 rapidly decomposed into lactic acid and alcohol. 



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