TARTARIC ACID

The acid of tartar. This acid is contained in grape juice, and in tamarinds and several other fruits. It is usually obtained from purified tartar: 4 parts of powdered tartar and 1 of chalk are mixed in hot water, and the white powder which subsides (tartrate, of lime) is decomposed by dilute sulphuric acid, which combines with the lime to form suljihateof lime, and the tartaric acid being liberated is obtained by evaporation. When pure it forms white crystals, composed of one equivalent of dry acid and one of water (66 + 9 = 75). The anhydrous tartaric acid, as it exists in the dry tartrates (tartrate of lead, for instance), is composed of 1208 I [s. 1221]