The Oxidation of Ethyl Lactate The reversible reduction of pyruvic acid to lactic acid by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase is a familiar biochemical system. The analogous chemical reduction can he carried out very eonvenientlv in the lahoratorv with sodium horohvdride. hut there is no eorresoondine.. wavof chemicallv oxidizine lactic acid . 188 pyruvir arid. \ I ? ha\e insmigated this renrtlm hecause rhe chemical a n a l q y i i verb mstrucri\.e ior ~ t u d r n t majoring s in l,~