310 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



Alanin is not acted upon by acids, nor by a boiling concentrated 

 solution of potash. When fused with hydrate of potash, hydrogen 

 is evolved, and there are formed hydrocyanic and acetic acids, which 

 remain combined with the potash. 



If nitrous gas (NO 3 ) be made to act upon a solution of alanin, 

 much nitrogen is evolved : the solution evaporated with a gentle 

 heat gives a syrupy residue, which, treated with aether, yields an 

 acid which was readily recognized by its reactions, and by the ele- 

 mentary analysis of its zinc salt, to be lactic acid. In fact the ana- 

 lysis of this salt led to the formula C 6 H 5 O 5 , ZnO + 3Aq. At 212° F. 

 it loses 3 equivalents of water. It is therefore common lactic acid, 

 and not that found in muscular flesh. 



The formation of lactic acid in the reaction described is repre- 

 sented by the equation 



C 6 H7N0 4 +N03=C 6 H 6 6 + HO + 2N. 

 alanin lactic acid 



This reaction is interesting, especially when it is considered that 

 the lactic acid, the formula for which ought probably to be doubled, 

 is derived from grape-sugar by a simple molecular modification. — 

 Comptes Rendus, Aout 1850. 



ON THE ACTION OF BASES UPON SALTS. 

 BY M. ALVARO REYNOSO. 



It is generally admitted that when a salt, the oxide of which is 

 insoluble, is treated with an alkaline solution, the oxide is precipi- 

 tated without redissolving, unless in its uncombined state it is so- 

 luble in an excess of the alkali with which the salt containing it is 

 mixed. 



On investigating the action of potash and soda on the arsenites, 

 the author observed some facts, which, if they be not precisely 

 contrary to the general law which he has cited, prove at least that 

 this phenomenon of precipitation is sometimes intimately connected 

 with the nature of the salt above the precipitate ; so that, in certain 

 cases, this salt may determine the solubility of the oxide. 



Thus, for example, the oxides of copper, uranium, cobalt, nickel, 

 silver, mercury and sesquioxide of iron, being insoluble in potash and 

 in soda, when these alkalies are poured into the arsenites of these 

 bases, precipitation of the insoluble oxide ought merely to occur, 

 with the formation of arsenite of potash or soda, unaccompanied 

 with any action on the oxide ; M. Reynoso has, however, found that 

 the arsenites of all these oxides are completely soluble in potash, 

 although in a separate state they are insoluble. 



Arsenite of iron is very soluble in potash ; the solution of arsenite 

 of copper is blue, and after a certain time it decomposes into prot- 

 oxide of copper, which precipitates, whilst the arsenite of potash 

 becomes arseniate. 



The decomposition of the solution of arsenite of mercury is almost 

 instantaneous. The solution of silver is colourless, and decomposes 

 very slowly, precipitating silver as a black powder. This solution 



