Lab #4 - April 19.
In this reaction, an excess of Acetic Anhydride is reacted with a carefully measured amount of Salicylic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid, a catalyst. The mixture is heated to form the Acetylsalicylic Acid and Acetic Acid. After the reaction takes place, water is used to cleanse the excess Acetic Anhydride from the product and cause the ASA product to crystallize. The hypothesis of "to synthesize ASA (Acetylsalicylic Acid) via a reaction between Salicylic Acid and Acetic Anhydride in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid acting as a catalyst.", stayed mostly true: though not medicinal quality. The percentage yield (76.47%) could be improved upon, however. There are a few sources of error in this particular experiment. With a total of 2.496 grams of pure SAS was synthesized,and a reasonable, 23.53% error and 76.47% product yield, I accept my hypothesis. Lab Reflection #4 This lab showed us students the simplified process that gowns on in a pharmaceutical company. This was very interesting, because we learned it through a very popular generic drug ASA (a.k.a "ASPIRIN”). I looked into some very interesting facts about ASA, like:
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