OF ALIPHATIC COMPOUNDS. 2$ 



which is only slowly decomposed, and the neutral 

 alkali salt both gave the same products, carbon 

 dioxide and a little carbon monoxide and oxygen. 

 After the completion of the experiment the solution 

 contained some aldehyde and acetic acid. 



Tartaric Acid (Dextrorotary). For our knowledge 

 of the deportment of this acid on electrolysis we are 

 also indebted to Bourgoin. 1 The free acid is partially 

 oxidized to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, 

 while the solution contains acetic acid. Neutral 

 potassium tartrate gives principally carbon dioxide 

 besides a little carbon monoxide and oxygen, acid 

 potassium tartrate being at the same time deposited. 

 In alkaline solutions the gases carry with them traces 

 of ethane, the formation of which is due to potassium 

 acetate which is found present in the solution at the 

 end of the operation. 



Before proceeding to a discussion of the acids still 

 to be considered, the deductions which Bourgoin 3 

 draws from his numerous experiments will be men- 

 tioned briefly. He regards the intermediate formation 

 of the anhydride as the most important process in the 

 electrolysis of organic acids, since by the splitting off 

 of oxygen this produces secondary oxidation products. 

 He considers, moreover, the transformation of the 

 acid anhydride into the hydrate, by the addition of 



1 Comp. rend., 65, 1144. 



1 Annal. chim. phys., [4], 14, 157. 



