I^; 



SYNTHETICAL BESEARCHES ON ACIDS OF THE LACTIC SERIES. 331 



The two stages in the production of ethylic amylhydroxalate are explained in the fol- 

 lowing equations : — 



Ethylic oxalate. Zincic amylo- 



ethylate. 



|CAy(Zn"AyXOZn"Ay) jCAyHHo 22n"Ho, + AyH + AyHo. 



IcOEto ^ ICOEto 2 n J I J 



Ethylic amylhy- Zincic Amylic Amylic 



droxalatc. hydrate. hydride. alcohol. 



We have not attempted to give a name to the body from which ethylic amylhydroxa- 

 late is directly produced by the action of water, as shown in the last of the foregoing 

 equations. The resources of chemical nomenclature, already too severely taxed, would 

 scarcely be able to elaborate a rational name for this body, which consists of ethylic 

 oxalate wherein an atom of oxygen is replaced half by amyl and half by zincmonamyl, 

 whilst a second atom of zincmonamyl is substituted for an atom of ethyl. 



Ethylic amylhydroxalate is a somewhat oily, transparent, and slightly straw-coloured 

 liquid of specific gravity "944:9 at 13° C, possessing a pleasant aromatic odour and 

 burning taste. It boils at 203° C. ; and a determination of its vapour-density gave the 

 following results : — 



Weight of ethylic amylhydroxalate "1662 grm. 



Observed volume of vapour 49*04 cub. centims. 



Temperature of bath 230° C. 



Height of barometer 766*5 millims. 



Difference of heights of mercury inside and outside tube . . .113 millims. 

 Height of spermaceti column reduced to millimetres of mercury . 16*5 millims. 



From these data the specific gravity was calculated to be 5*47, the above formula 

 requiring 6*0. To this discrepancy we shall refer again presently. 



Section B of the oily liquid, after careful rectification, gave a product boiling at 224- 

 225°, and yielded on analysis the following results : — 



I. '2858 grm. gave '6787 grm. carbonic anhydride and *2803 grm. water. 

 II. *3508 grm. gave *8357 grm. carbonic anhydride and *3484 grm. water. 

 III. -4960 grm. gave 1*1778 grm. carbonic anhydride and *4862 grm. water. 

 The percentage numbers calculated from the foregoing agree with the formula 



^11 "22 ^3> 



as seen from the following comparison. 



