32 ELECTROLYSIS AND ELECTROS YN THESIS 



Ordinary Lactic Acid. As Kolbe ' had already dis- 

 covered, the concentrated solution of the potassium 

 salt gave carbon dioxide and acetic aldehyde. The 

 investigators above mentioned also remarked the 

 presence of some formic acid. When the solution 

 about the positive pole was kept slightly alkaline, 

 aldol and crotonic aldehyde were formed instead of 

 acetic aldehyde. 



Sarco-lactic Acid. When the solution surrounding 

 the positive pole was kept neutral a concentrated 

 solution of the sodium salt yielded acetic aldehyde 

 and carbon dioxide. 



^-Oxy-butyric Acid. This substance was converted 

 into carbon dioxide, propionic aldehyde, and formic 

 acid. 



<*-Oxy-isobutyric Acid. This compound gave car- 

 bon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and acetone. 



Tartaric Acid. From the electrolysis of a concen- 

 trated solution of potassium tartrate, carbon dioxide, 

 carbon monoxide, oxygen, a little formic aldehyde, 

 and some formic acid were obtained, but no acetic 

 acid and ethylene, as stated by Bourgoin. 



Hydracrylic Acid. Resin and a little formic acid 

 were found present in the electrolyte about the posi- 

 tive pole. 



/?-Oxy-butyric Acid. From this acid were obtained 

 carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, crotonic aldehyde, 



1 Lieb. Ann., 113, 214. 



