Chemistry 100-03
March 19, 2012
Abstract:
• Introduction/Objective: Prepare and analyze aspirin from salicylic acid and acetic anhydride, and calculate the percent yield of the synthesized aspirin.
• Materials and Methods: This experiment called for the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin, by using salicylic acid, acetic anhydride, sulfuric acid, and vacuum filtration. The salicylic acid and the acetic anhydride were mixed in a flask. Sulfuric acid was used as a catalyst to speed up the decomposition rate of salicylic acid. Vacuum filtration as then used to remove all water from the aspirin sample. Afterward, the aspirin was analyzed by using chromatography which confirmed the purity of the aspirin.
• Results: The results of this experiment showed that the aspirin synthesized was not completely pure since there were miniscule traces of salicylic acid present in the aspirin sample. This was evident after analyzing the chromatographic paper under UV light. The calculated yield of the dried aspirin sample was 74.09 percent totaling a mass of 2.03 grams of aspirin with a theoretical yield of 2.74 grams.
• Discussion: There may have been some room for error in this experiment. After adding the acetic acid anhydride and the sulfuric acid into the flask, the flask could have been swirled for a longer period of time to increase the chance of all the salicylic acid being dissolved. Also, the sample could have been kept on the aspirator for a longer period of time to ensure that all water was removed from the aspirin sample before weighing it.
Introduction:
• Purpose/Objective: Experiments like these are important since the right amount of salicylic acid and acetic anhydride must be mixed in order to synthesize pure aspirin. Aspirin is an important supplement to take to relieve pain, fevers, and reduce the risk of possible heart attacks.
• Theory: In order to make the results of this experiment
References: 1. Mann, C. C.; Plummer, M.L. The aspirin wars: Money, medicine, and 100 years of rampant competition. Knopf, New York; 1991. 2. Feinman, S. E. (Ed.). Beneficial and toxic effect of aspirin. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL; 1993. 3. March, J. Advanced Organic Chemistry, Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY; 1992.