They are easily hydrolysed, breaking up into their components when boiled with acids or alkalies.
They readily decompose on heating, and are easily hydrolysed by alkalies; they possess a somewhat more acid character than.
It behaves as a strong oxidant and in aqueous solution is slowly hydrolysed.
These esters are readily hydrolysed and yield the monoand di-alkylimalonic acids which, on heating, are readily decomposed, with evolution of carbon dioxide and the formation of monoand di-alkyl acetic acids.
Chevreul found that a neutral salt soap hydrolysed to an acid salt, free alkali, and a small amount of fatty acid.