Some Physical Properties of Lactose

In 1855, Berthelot noticed that freshly prepared lactose solutions show a progressive fall in optical rotation with time. This phenomenon, which was soon confirmed, had previously been reported for D-glucose, and was later given the name mutaroiation Several crystalline forms of lac- 

Melting Point and Optical Rotation of the Lactose Anomers 

Compound Molecular weight Melting point, °C. [alo, degrees Solvent References 

The rate constants for the mutarotation reaction have also been determined under a variety of conditions, catalysis being more marked 

Expressions for the dependence on temperature and concentration (where c is the concentration in g./lOO ml. of solution) are as follows  

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Jones, T.M. Pilpel, N. Some physical properties of lactose and magnesia. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1965, 17, 440. 

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