562 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
© 
I 
the pseudo-alcohols derived from them must contain Q 
©-(^- 
By a comparison of various reactions it is shown that the group 
characteristic of the olefine-hydrates is probably 
0 
0 
Such groups of atoms may be called generic radicals, as the dis- 
tinguishing characters of a genus depend on the presence of one 
of them, and the individual substances may be classified as com- 
pounds of these radicals. In conclusion, some substances are 
mentioned which consist entirely of such radicals, as glycol 
(CHjHO) 2, glyoxal (COH)2, oxalic acid (CO HO)2, hypo-sulphuric 
acid (S 02 H 0 ) 2 , glycolic acid (CH2HO) (CO HO), glyoxylic acid 
(COH) (CO HO), glycerine (CH HO)" (CH2HO)2, tartronic acid 
(CH HO)" (CO H 0 ) 2 , glyceric acid (CH HO)" (CH2HO) (CO HO), 
mesoxalic acid (CO)" (CO HO)2- 
