Microscale Synthesis of Acetylsalicylic Acid - 1211 Words

Synthesis of Aspirin Ling Tecson Gamido, Mitchiko Mariel M. Mizukami Abstract Acetylsalicylic acid, or also known as aspirin is known to be a drug that relives people of pain and is commonly used even today. It is synthesized from salicylic acid and ethanoic anhydride, both of small quantities. Phosphoric acid was used as a catalyst in the synthesis to speed up the process. Esterification is involved and the final product is aspirin with the presence of acetic acid as the byproduct. In order to create the powder form of aspirin, the process of crystallization was conducted and was run through vacuum filtration. After running through the help of an electronic instrument, the result that was achieved in this experiment was met due to†¦show more content†¦With the presence of carboxylic acid (which is active in the reaction of the synthesis) in the results done by an electronic instrument, it shows that the reaction went through the right direction. The proper techniques needed in the synthesis of aspirin and the physical properties of aspirin are determined and applied. The synthesis of aspirin by analysis of its melting point, IR and mass spectrum are confirmed. Recommendations A recommendation would be a more accurate and safer way of transporting the reactants inside a test tube. A small amount of salicylic acid was remaining on the walls of the test tube. Due to this, an increased amount of acetic anhydride was used for the experiment. This could have affected the yield of the final product. Through the vacuum filtration, some of the reaction mixtures were not able to properly go through the filtration since it was not able to properly go through the filter. References Microscale synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid.(n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23857240/Microscale-Synthesis-of-Acetylsalicylic-Acid(1) University of Colorado.(n.d.) Retrieved from http://orgchem.colorado.edu/hndbksupport/specttutor/irchart.html Moor Park College.(n.d.). Retrieved from http://sunny.moorparkcollege.edu/~chemistry/chemistry_1B_labs/experiment_fifteen.pdf Gettysburg College.(n.d.)