454 Scientific Intelligence. 
propionic acid was regenerated. On the question of its rational 
constitution, Wislicenus remarks: that as there can exist only 
two monobasic and diatomic acids C,H,O, containing the group 
COOH, and these two are known, being respectively ethylene and 
ethylidene-lactic acids, it follows that hydracrylic acid, differing 
as it does from both of these, must contain a different grouping. 
He therefore maintains that the carboxyl group COOH, is not the 
only one which can give an acid character to a molecule ; but that 
the group C,O0OH or better O<t, oH 2% only may do so, 
but actually does so in the case of hydracrylic acid. Of the three 
f : 
ormulas possible upon this hypothesis, 
CH, CH,0H CH,OH 
C—OH : C-OH 
°<6_on O<GHOH O<tu, 
the author rejects the first because the acid does not give the 
iodoform reaction and cannot therefore contain a methyl group; 
and the third because it would lead to an improbable formula for 
acrylic acid. The second formula being accepted, the following 
formulas are derived for the bodies related to hydracrylic acid : 
CH,I CH,OH CH, OH 
C 6—OH ¢HOH 
oO n 1 1 
Soo °<cHou (H,OH 
8 iodopropionic acid, G)yceric acid. Glycerin. 
CH, CH, CH, 
y C CH 
O O 
én on, ie is H,OH. 
Acrylic acid. Acrolein. Allyl alcohol. 
The author reserves to a subsequent paper the results of the in- 
vestigation of the other constituent of the sarco-lactic acid.— Am. 
Ch. Pharm., clxvi, 8, Jan., 1873.—Bull. Soe. Ch., Ul, xx, 22, 
July @: F. B. 
- On the Synthesis of a new Propionic acid.—BERTHELOT 
showed several years ago that potassium hydrate absorbed car- 
bonous oxide readily, producing potassium formate thus: 
KOH+CO=CHO OK. 
If now the alkali-aleoholates be employed, he conceived that 
the acids of the fatty series might be formed thus : 
C.H,.,, O0K+-Co= ; Cart, 
tion water in the least trace, precipitates barium hydrate—Wwas 
substituted. It slowly absorbed carbonous oxide, 8 ¢.c. of solu- 
