“ It reduces ammoniacal silver solutions. When heated with hydrochloric acid to 100° C. it yields carbon dioxide and pyrotartaric acid, C5H8O4, and when warmed with dilute sulphuric acid to 150° C. it gives carbon dioxide and acetaldehyde. Sodium amalgam or zinc and hydrochloric acid reduce it to lactic acid, whilst hydriodic acid gives propionic acid. It readily condenses with aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of sulphuric acid. It is somewhat readily oxidized; nitric acid gives carbonic and oxalic acids, and chromic acid, carbonic and acetic acids. ”