Studies of the processes operative in solutions. XXIII.—The hydrolysis of methylic acetate by acids
One of the main objects in view throughout this series of studies of the processes operative in solutions has been to discover the nature of the changes which attend dissolution, particularly the extent to which substances undergo hydration when dissolved in water; another primary object has been to unravel the nature of the process of hydrolysis. The evidence thus far obtained has been always such as to show that the phenomena are far more complex than is usually supposed and even to discredit the interpretation that it is now customary to give of them. In Communication XII of the series, I have given an account of experiments made with improved apparatus and with extreme care of the behaviour of cane sugar towards chlorhydric and nitric acids and of the influence of certain chlorides and nitrates on the rate of change. It was shown that the rate of hydrolysis could not be accurately expressed by any simple formula, as it was not even proportional to the concentration of the sugar, though it was approximately so when the molecular ratio of sugar to water was not high. Evidence was adduced to show that water as such, i.e. free water, did not play any part in the change but acted solely as solvent and that the active factor of the interaction besides the sugar was the hydrated acid catalyst.