Methyl Salicylate Lab

For the first part of the experiment, it began by weighing 4.0ml of methyl salicylate into a flask—a stir bar was added. While stirring, 40ml of 6M sodium hydroxide was added and the solution was heated and boiled for about 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes, a bit of water was used to wash down the sides of the flask and the solution was cooled. It was boiled for another 15 minutes, after this the solution was cooled for 5 minutes in an ice water bath. While the flaks was in the ice bath, 50ml of 6M hydrochloric acid was added in 5ml increments until the solution had a pH lower than 2. The flask was swirled for 3 minutes and then vacuum filtered for about 3 minutes. The product was then weighed and the percent yield was calculated. The H NMR was then obtained for this product, the remainder of the product was used to run the IR spectrum. However, since there was a fire alarm for this lab, we were not able to obtain the IR spectrum of our product. Also, the solution was not filtered
The percent yield was taken by dividing the theoretical and the actual product. The theoretical product was calculated by using the weighed amount of methyl salicylate, which was 4.424g. This weight was then converted to the weight in grams of salicylic acid (Table 6.1).
The percent yield for the second part of the experiment was calculated to be 85% (Table 7.1). The percent yield was calculated in a similar manner as the first calculation. However, this time the theoretical product was calculated by using the weighed amount of salicylic acid which was 1.414g. This weight was converted to the weight in grams of acetylsalicylic acid (Table 7.1).
The NMR spectrums showed the final products. For lab 6, the NMR spectrum showed the aromatic benzylic hydrogens as well as the hydrogen from the methyl salicylate. As for lab 7, the NMR spectrum also showed the aromatic hydrogens as well as the