Abstract
If beta-oxybutyric acid is oxidized with dichromate in the presence of sulfuric acid and mercuric sulfate, a precipitate of the acetone compound of mercury sulfate can be obtained in an amount proportional to the beta-oxybutyric present. Thus, if 175 c.c. of a beta-oxybutyric solution containing 9 per cent. of sulfuric acid, 2 per cent. of mercuric sulfate, and 0.25 gram of potassium dichromate are boiled under a reflex for an hour, 7.7 milligrams of mercury-acetone compound are precipitated for each milligram of beta-oxybutyric acid present. The beta-oxybutyric acid may vary from 1 to 9 mg. without affecting the ratio, if the concentrations of the other reagents are kept constant.
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