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PROPERTIES OF MUCOUS ACID.

MUCOUS,

OR

SACCH©=JLACTIC ACIJD).

PART cl

jL HIS acid was discovered by Scheele, who obtained ir bytreating sugar of milk with nitric acid. Hence he called it saccho-lactic acid.

PROPERTIES OF MUCOUS ACID,

Mucous < acid exists in the form of a white gritty powder.It is sparingly soluble in water, but more soluble in alcohol. Itstaste is slightly acid, but it sensibly reddens tincture of cabbage.It scarcely acts upon any of the metals. It forms soluble saltswith potash, soda, or ammonia; but insoluble compounds withmost of the rest of the alcalies and earths.

METHODS OF OBTAINING MUCOUS ACID.

Take one part of gum arabic reduced to powder, put it intoa retort, and pour over it two parts of nitric acid; heat the mix-ture gradually, keep it boiling for about a quarter of an hour,and then suffer it to cool; a white powder will separate, whichafter being washed is mucous acid.

Mucous acid may be obtained, by treating sugar of milk withnitric acid, in a similar manner.

The compounds formed of mucous acid have been but littleinvestigated.