OF ALIPHATIC COMPOUNDS. 33 



a little formic acid, a resin, and a number of unsatu- 

 rated hydrocarbons which were not further investi- 

 gated. 



Phenyl-/?-lactic Acid. The solution after electroly- 

 sis contained benzaldehyde, besides resinous bodies. 



Methyl-glycolic Acid. The solution of this acid 

 after electrolysis contained formic aldehyde, formic 

 acid, and possibly methyl alcohol. Oxygen, carbon 

 monoxide, and carbon dioxide were evolved. 



Mandelic Acid. The electrolysis of this acid re- 

 sulted in the formation of benzaldehyde and the 

 gases mentioned above. 



Glyceric Acid. Like mandelic acid, glyceric acid 

 was decomposed into carbon monoxide, carbon diox- 

 ide, and oxygen, formic aldehyde and formic acid 

 being found in the solution. 



Phenyl-glyceric Acid. The products resulting from 

 the electrolysis of this acid were the same as those 

 obtained from mandelic acid. 



Malic Acid. This compound yielded carbon diox- 

 ide, oxygen, carbon monoxide, acetic aldehyde, and 

 crotonic aldehyde. 



Racemic Acid. On the electrolysis of this acid the 

 gases given above were obtained and also an aldehyde 

 which was not further investigated. 



Ethyl-tartaric Acid. This gave the same gases, but 

 any other gases which may have been formed were 

 not identified. 



