1908-9.] Life and Chemical Work of Archibald S. Couper. 
Propionic Acid. 
C 
O— OH 
C ) 
I 0— OH 
or, as before, 
( o 2 
( 1 j. 
V I 
I : ° 2 
c ' 0— OH 
c ) 
0— OH 
Glycol. 
Oxalic Acid. 
C.. 
0 
0 2 
0 2 
O - OH 
O -OH 
( 0— OH 
C " 0 OH 
0 OH 
C 
: O 2 
0 
1 O 2 
w 
j 
— o 
C --H 2 
C H 2 
i 
C-"H 2 
C H 3 
C — H 3 
I 0— OH 
C ■ 
C 
o - 
OH 
C 
OH 
H 2 
H 2 
1 H 2 
• 
( H 2 
c:: 
H 2 
-o- 
OH 
c’’ 
H 2 
OH 
j 0— OH 
I 
J \ 
c o -OH 
CT 
OH 
: -O 2 
0 
I o 2 
• 
1 o 2 
A-0 2 
" 0— OH 
c:: 
0 
OH 
0 
c 
o 
o 
OH 
OH 
213 
Couper thus gives an alternative formula for oxalic acid, in which the 
two (...O...OH) groups are united to one and the same carbon atom. 
While Couper ’s formulas, with the exception of this last, pass im- 
mediately into the constitutional formulae now in use, if we take O = 16, 
he is less happy in formulating glycerin and glyceric acid. 
“ f O— OH 
C \ 0— OH 
U 
OH 2 
( H 2 
n J 
) 0— OH 
Glycerin. 
0 -OH 
C: O OH 
H 
C H 2 
OH 
C OH 
j H 
0 H 2 
H 2 
0 OH ” 
C 
H 2 
OH 
