Hydroxy acid, oxidation, bromine The oxidation of glycollic, lactic, a-hydroxybutyric, and 2-phenyllactic acids by aque ous bromine has been studied. The reaction is of first order with respect to the oxidant and the anion of the hydroxy acid respectively. The active oxidising species is molecular bromine. The oxidation of ci,a-dideuterioglycollic acid indicated a kinetic isotope effect, ^h /^...