1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Saccharic Acid

SACCHARIC ACID, C₆H₁₀O₈ or HO₂C[CH⋅OH]₄CO₂.H, in chemistry, a tetraoxydicarboxylic acid which exists in three stereo isomeric forms. The ordinary or dextro (d)-sacqharicsacid is formed in the oxidation of cane sugar, grape sugar, ligluconic acid and many other carbohydrates' with nitric* acid. yiltfforms a, deliquescent, mass. On standing, , the syrupy acid gives the crystalline lactonic acid, C¢HgQ7., Sodium amalgam reduces, it to glucuronic acid, C6H1001v . or' QH'C[CH-OHl4CO2H, | whilst hydriodiciacid reduce sit toadipicyacid, HO2C[CH2]4CO2H. Nitric acid oxidizes it to deyrtrmtartaric, acid and oxalic acid, Laevo (I), saccharicacid is formed by oxidizing l-gluconic aciclewith iriitriic acid, whilst the inafive (d+l)-acid is obtained similarly fion1 inactive gluconic- acid, Theseiacids closely resernbleethefd except, in etheirfactione onipolarized light. A 'For their relations to the glucoses see SUGAR. Mucic acid (q.v;) is isomeric with these acids. V