358 MESSES. E. FEANKLAND AND B. F. DUPPA'S 



formed into carbonic acid and aldehyde, 



fCMeHHo Q ^ CMeHO + COHo^. 

 ICOHo 



Lactic acid. Aldehyde. Carbonic acid. 



It will be observed that one of the atoms of oxatyl in the original oxalic acid 



a] is here eliminated as the well-known derivative, carbonic acid. 

 CO Ho/ 



The aldehyde thus obtained, and which contains the methyl sought for, must now be 



oxidized to acetic acid ; and it then only remains to resort once more to electrolytic 



oxygen to liberate the methyl, together with the remaining atom of oxatyl, originally 



present in the oxalic acid, 



Acetic acid. Methyl. 



We tabulate below the materials used in the synthesis of dimethoxalic acid side by 



side with the products obtained by the analysis of that acid : 



Materials for Synthesis. Eesults of Analysis. 



A . , ^ . 



' I. 11. I. 11. 



fCOHo rcH. 



IcOHo" ICH 



2COH02. CH3. COHHo. 



Carbonic acid. Methyl. Formic acid. 



Oxalic acid. Methyl. 



In like manner the radicals contained in the other acids belonging to the normal and 

 secondary divisions of the lactic series can be extracted, whilst it has already been 

 proved by Butleeow * that etheric normal acids, when treated with concentrated solu- 

 tion of hydriodic acid, yield up, as iodide, the alcohol radical which ui these acids is 

 linked to carbon by oxygen ; thus in the case of ethyl-lactic acid, 



fCMeHEto, jjj^fCMeHHo j,^j 

 ICOHo ICOHo 



Ethyl-lactic Lactic acid. Ethylic 



acid. iodide. 



The olefine acids are as yet too little known to allow of their constitution being thus 

 analytically investigated. These acids do not derive from oxalic acid by substitution 

 alone, but by simultaneous addition of an olefine. They may, in fact, be regarded as 

 standing somewhat in the same relation to the normal acids as the polyethylenic glycols 

 occupy with regard to the normal glycols, as seen from the following comparison : — 



■CH2H0 

 .CHgHo' 



Glycol. 



