Chemistry and Physics. 279 
be considered as the alcohols of diatomic acids: the following facts sorve 
to confirm this view. By oxydizing diethylenic aleohol O,H, ‘0, he 
bd . . . . . . 2 . 
has obtained an acid isomeric with malic acid, and under the same cir- 
C,H, 
cumstances, has transformed triethylenic alcohol yi O, into a still 
“nH, 
more complex acid. 
e oxydation of diethylenic alcohol is easily affected by nitric acid 
which acts very violently ; the acid liquid crystallizes when evaporated. 
The liquid is to be saturated with milk of lime, when a small quantity of 
oxalate of lime separates. The filtrate yields a lime salt + long and 
C,H, 09;- This acid does not crystallize, but after separation remains 
of molecules of ethylene, C,H,, into glycolyl, C,H,0,, as the following 
formulas show. 
Oris C1H202 iH C1202 CiH: } 
Hf Hf OH Gif: 60s, CiH202 40s, Cul Lo; 
Glyeo _ Glycolic acid. 2 (1H [~" 
Diethylenic alcohol. Diglycolie acid, 
Triethylenic  Dygly cal a 
alcohol. _ethy. 
These acids possess the molecular composition and th 
e charaeters of the 
vegetable acids; they are obtained synthetically from olefiant gas, which 
4S successively transformed into bromide of ethylene, glycol, oxyd of ethy- 
lie and diglycolethy- 
p. de Chimie, Pure, Sept. 1860, se ‘eke 
_, 5. On the determination of Phosphoric Acid.—‘I ae of CHANCEL 
for the determination of phosphoric acid by means of the acid nitrate of 
bismuth, has already been described in this Journal (vol. xxx, 122). The 
or now gives further details which are necessary to ensure the success 
lene, polyethylenic alcohols, and finally into diglyco! 
lenic acids—Rep, de Chimi 
