OF A LIP HA TIC COMPO UNDS. 1 7 



This conclusion is drawn from the observed fact 

 that the dithionic acids upon the electrolysis of their 

 alkali salts give acid supersulphides which correspond 

 with the superoxides: 



R.CSS -L- R.CSS = R.CSS\ ( UNIVERSIT 



R ' CSS/ 'V^u 



In contrast to the acid superoxides, the acid super- 

 sulphides are stable compounds. 



The reactions and the corresponding electrolytic 

 products which occur in the electrolysis of the alkali 

 salts of the fatty acids were thoroughly investigated 

 by Rohland, 1 who electrolyzed the alkali salts of 

 capronic, caprylic, and heptylic acids. 



Potassium Capronate gave normal decane, C, H M ; 



Potassium Caprylate analogously gave normal tetra- 

 decane, C J4 H 30 ; while 



Potassium Heptylate gave besides dodecane, C 12 H 26 , 

 a small quantity of an unsaturated hydrocarbon, 

 probably octylene, C 8 H 18 . 



The fatty acids with ethylene bond behave differ- 

 ently. In their case no smooth reaction occurs. The 

 electrolysis of undecylenic acid, for example, yielded a 

 mixture of several unsaturated hydrocarbons, a result 

 similar to that obtained in the investigation of potas- 

 sium oleate, the only outcome of which was a mixture 

 of various compounds which could not be separated. 



1 Ztschr. f. Elektrochemie, 4, 120. 



