a. Chem. [ad. F. tartralique (Frémy, 1838), arbitrarily formed on tartr-ique (f. tartre TARTAR1 + -ique), to indicate derivation from tartaric acid: cf. TARTRELIC. (Annales de Chimie, LXVIII. (1838).)] In tartralic acid (also called ditartaric or isotartaric acid), C8H10O11 = 2C4H6O6—H2O, an amorphous deliquescent substance obtained by heating tartaric acid. Its salts are Tartralates.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., III. 332. If tartaric acid be heated to 374°, it fuses; two equivalents of the acid lose one equivalent of water, and thus become converted into a new acid, termed by Fremy the tartralic. If tartaric acid be kept longer in fusion half its basic water is expelled, and tartrelic acid is formed. Ibid. A soluble tartralate of this base is formed.
1868. Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 69. Ditartaric Acid,… called Tartralic acid by Frémy, Isotartaric acid by Laurent and Gerhardt.
