SYNTHETICAL EESEAECIEES ON ACIDS OF THE LACTIC SERIES. 359 



We beg to append the following summary of conclusions to which our investigations 

 have conducted us : — 



1. All acids of the lactic series are essentially monobasic. 



2. These acids are of four species, viz. normal, secondary, normal olefine, and secon- 

 dary olefine acids ; and each of these species has its ovra etheric series of acids, in 

 which the hydrogen of the hydroxyl contained in the positive or basylous constituent of 

 the acid is replaced by a compound organic radical, either positive or negative. 



3. The normal acids are derived from oxalic acid by the replacement of one atom of 

 oxygen, either by two atoms of hydrogen, or by one atom of hydrogen and one atom of 

 an alcohol radical. 



4. The secondary acids are derived from oxalic acid by the replacement of one atom 

 of oxygen by two atoms of monad alcohol radicals. 



5. The olefine acids are derived from oxalic acid by a like substitution of two monad 

 positive radicals for one atom of oxygen, vfith the insertion of an olefine or dyad radical 

 (C„ Hjn) between the two atoms of oxatyl. 



6. The acids of the lactic series stand to the acids of the acetic series in the very 

 simple relation first pointed out by Kolbe, viz. that by the replacement, by hydrogen, 

 of the hydroxyl, ethoxyl, &c., contained in the positive radical of an acid of the lactic 

 series, that acid becomes converted into a member of the acetic series. 



7. The acids of the lactic series stand in an almost equally simple relation to those of 

 the acrylic series, as is seen on comparing the following formulae : — 



fC(CH3)HHo rC(CH2)"H 



IcOHo ■ ICOHo 



Lactic acid. Acrylic acid. 



