——— 
SYNTHETICAL RESEARCHES ON ORGANIC ACIDS. 483 
Again, the volatile acids from the last four bottles required for neutraliza- 
tion 2-44 germs. Na, and the residue of sodium-salts was found to be 
7-74 grms., which therefore contained 31-52 percent. Na. This is 2:3 per 
cent. less than in formiate of sodium. 
These results agree in showing that the volatile acids contain at least one 
acid of higher molecular weight than formic acid. I have recognized one 
such acid, and have succeeded in separating it from the formic acid. 
36. The most general supposition which can be made with respect to the 
theory of the production of the fixed and volatile acids in these researches is, 
that they are due to the mutual action of carbonic acid, alcohol, and nascent 
hydrogen, evolved by the action of sodium-amalgam on absolute alcohol, as 
represented by the expression 
«CO, + yH, + zC,H,O — wH,0. 
37. The results, however, of an elaborate examination of the fixed acids, 
into the details of which it is not my intention to enter here, taken in con- 
nexion with the conclusions drawn from the examination of the volatile 
acids, have shown that probably the whole of the volatile acids, and a con- 
siderable part of the fixed acids, are produced by the direct action of nascent 
hydrogen or carbonic acid, as represented by the equation 
«CO, + y H, — w HO = ©, Ho ein) Oo 2 wo 
38. Before, then, we can determine the compounds (if any) for the produc- 
tion of which the presence of alcohol is essential, it is necessary to investi- 
gate thoroughly the fixed and volatile acids produced by the action of nascent 
hydrogen on carbonic acid when carbonic acid is passed through water con- 
taining sodium amalgam. 
The replacement of the oxygen in carbonic acid by hydrogen in so simple 
a manner is undoubtedly a step in synthesis which assimilates, for the first 
time, our synthetical processes to those which we may suppose to take place 
in plants where the most complicated compounds are produced from carbonic 
acid and water. 
39. The results of my researches during the past year may be briefly sum- 
marized as follows :— 
(1) That if a current of dry carbonic acid be kept constantly passing 
through absolute alcohol which is in contact with sodium-amalgam containing 
about 2 per cent. of sodium, for every 100 grms. of sodium used in the re. 
action at least 175 germs. of sodium-salts of organic acids are formed syn- 
thetically, about 35 grms. of which are the sodium-salts of volatile acids, and 
the remaining 140 grms. are the sodium salts of fixed acids. 
(2) That the volatile acids consist of formic acid and at least one other 
acid of higher molecular weight. 
(3) That the fixed acids are principally acids having a greater atomicity 
then basicity, and they are originally produced as sodium-salts, in which both 
the basic and typical hydrogen of the acid are replaced by sodium. 
(4) That probably the whole of the volatile acids, and a considerable part 
of the fixed acids, are produced by the direct action of nascent hydrogen on 
— earbonic acid. 
I cannot conclude this Report without thanking Dr. Maclagan, Professor 
of Medical Jurisprudence in the University of Edinburgh, for the great kind- 
ness and liberality with which he placed the resources of his laboratory at my 
_ disposal; but I am especially indebted to Dr. Arthur Gamgee for much valu- 
able assistance. 
