SYNTHETICAL EESEAECHES ON ACIDS OP THE LACTIC SEEIES. 32^9 



By exactly decomposing this salt with dilute sulphuric acid and evaporating the 

 filtrate, first in a retort and afterwards in vacuo, ethomethoxalic acid was obtained as a 

 splendid white crystalline mass, fusing at 63° C, subliming readily at 100° C, and con- 

 densing in magnificent star-like groups upon a cold surface. It boils, with decomposition, 

 at 190° C. Ethomethoxalic acid is very readily soluble in ether, alcohol, or water; 

 small fragments of it thrown upon water rotate like camphor whilst dissolving. These 

 solutions react powerfully acid, and readily decompose carbonates. 



The analysis of this acid gave the following results : — 



I. "2203 grm. gave -4126 grm. carbonic anhydride and -1715 grm. water. 

 II. -1744 grm. gave -3282 grm. carbonic anhydride and -1389 grm. water. 



These numbers con'espond with the formula 



_ ^ _ jCEtMeHo 

 C5H,o03,or|^^jj^ : 



Calculated. Found. 



118 100-00 



Argentic ethomethoxalate was prepared by treating the free acid dissolved in water 

 with argentic carbonate. The salt crystallizes in splendid mammillated masses half an 

 inch in diameter, which are tolerably soluble in water. It gave on analysis the following 

 numbers : — 



-2509 grm. gave -2449 grm. carbonic anhydride, -0944 grm. water, and -1206 grm. 

 metallic silver. 



These results agree with the formula 



o TT A o /CEtMeHo 

 C,H,Ag03,or|^^^^^ : 



V. Action of Zinc upon a Mixture of Amylic Iodide and Ethylic Oxalate. 

 When a mixture of equivalent proportions of ethylic oxalate and amylic iodide is 

 digested with granulated zinc at 70° C, the zinc is gradually dissolved, while much 



