Synthesis of aspirin: In the lab we have made aspirin from acetic anhydride and
ID: 933241 • Letter: S
Question
Synthesis of aspirin:
In the lab we have made aspirin from acetic anhydride and salicylic acid using phosphorous acid as a catalyst. Afterwards we added water to quench the remaining acetic anhydride and to make the aspirin form crystals. THEN we added saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, and then we filtrated. To the filtrate we added 6 M hydrochloric acid to form crystals again. These crystals were then filtrate and washed and considered the final product. QUESTION: What was the purpose of the sodium bicarbonate -> hydrochloric acid steps. Some sort of purification, right?
Explanation / Answer
By Treating with the Sat. sodium bicarbonate solution the unreacted salicilic acid and phosphorous acid were quenched. Those were seperated by filtration.
The product Aspirin becomes as a sodium salt due to the treatment of the sodium bicarbonate, By treating with the HCl it becomes free acid of Asipirin.
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