254? LACTIC ACID. 



Sulph. acid _ Experiment 3. If fulpliuric acid be added to lactic acid, or 



aciddifengages to a ' a< ^ ate °f potafh, a difengagerr.ent lakes place not only of 

 acetous acid. acetic acid, but alfo of an elaftic fluid, which forms a thick 



cloud when in contact with ammonia, 

 Diftillation. Experiment 4. When the preceding mixture is diftilled in 



an apparatus proper to receive the gafeous product in water, 

 the diftilled water of the bottle preferves its tranfparency ; the 

 fmell of acetic acid is very evident; it reddens turnfole and, 

 precipitates the muriate of filver. 



When a fmall quantity of ammonia was brought near the 



tube out of which the gas iflued, a very denfe cloud was 



formed. 



Fire decompofed Experiment 5 What was left in the retort was evaporated 



the acid of the to drynefs. This refidue was brown, very acid, and when 



a ate pota afterwards heated in a crucible of platina, fwelled up and 



left a coal. 



Puring this operation a fmall quantity of fulphuric acid was 

 decompofed. 



The matter that remained in the retort was diflblved in dif- 

 tilled water. The folution did not redden turnfole, but it gave 

 a brown colour to paper tinged with curcuma. A little 

 Julphuric acid was added to faturation, and after evaporation 

 cryftals were obtained by cooling, which exhibited the cha* 

 rafters of fulphate of potafh. 



As the fupematant liquor had a metallic tafte, pruffiate of 

 lime was poured on it, which produced a bluifh tinge. 

 LacYie acid de- Experiment 6. The laftic acid may alfo be concentrated to 

 composed by fire drynefs ; heated to incineration in a crucible ; afterwards difr 

 eaves po a . f i vee j m a diftilled water and precipitated by nitrate of Giver. 

 A muriate of filver is formed which may be feparated by the 

 filter; and the fluid which contains the nitrate is then evapo- 

 rated and decompofed by heat, A white matter remains, 

 which when diflblved in water, affords with the tartareous 

 acid an acidulous tartrite of potafh. 

 Component parts Hence I conclude that the laclic acid of Scheele is com- 

 of Scheele's pofed of acetic acid; muriate of potafh; a fmall portion of 

 iron probably diflblved in the acetic acid; and an animal 

 matter. 



An 



