OF ALIPHATIC COMPOUNDS. 2$ 



ments of Kolbe has been almost universally accepted, 

 can no longer claim to represent the true fact in the 

 case, since no or almost no paraffines result from this 

 operation. 



2. The olefine C M H 2W sometimes predominates 

 among the products formed by the electrolysis of the 

 alkali salts of the fatty acids, 



The general nature of the reactions is represented 

 by the following equation : 



2C,H 1 , + I .COO = C.H - + 1 .COOH + C.H M + CO.. 



3. An alcohol with n carbon atoms is always formed 

 if the acid contains (n + i) carbon atoms. The struc- 

 ture of the alcohol is not always that which is 

 expected. Frequently more than a third of the 

 energy of the current is expended in the formation of 

 the alcohol. Whether the alcohol is generated by 

 the saponification of the ester present, according to 

 the equation 



2CH 2B + ,COO- = C.H M + I .COOC.H,. +1 + CO,, 



or whether it is formed by the hydration of the 

 defines, C,H 1(I + H 2 O = C w H aM+1 OH, is still uncer- 

 tain. 



To decide this question a more thorough investiga- 

 tion of the substances resulting from the electrolysis 



