Inquiry question: What are the implications for society of chemical
synthesis and design?
● Evaluate the factors that need to be considered when designing a chemical synthesis
process, including but not limited to:
○ Availability of reagents
○ Reaction conditions
○ Yield and purity
○ Industrial uses (e.g. pharmaceutical, cosmetics, cleaning products, fuels)
○ Environmental, social, and economic issues
Entry 1 - 28th April 2021
Initial Lesson Reflection:
The main aim of this investigation is to synthesise aspirin so its purity and yield can be
analysed. As of now, I know part of my equipment includes 2ml of aspirin and an unknown
amount of salicylic acid. However, I am unaware of the steps I need to complete in order to
synthesise. Hence, secondary research is to be conducted to assist me in understanding the
basic features of aspirin and to write a detailed report in preparation for the next lesson.
The time given in-class for the investigation is a total of 7 lessons - to effectively utilise the time I
will create a rough plan outlining the main aims of each lesson; most of the lessons for this
investigation are back to back lessons, hence I must be proactive in sending an order form so
the equipment arrives on time.
Lesson objectives:
- To conduct secondary research on the properties of aspirin
- To outline a temporary plan for the 7 lessons which is prone to change
- To write out the report, especially the risk assessment for the second lesson in which
synthesis of aspirin is planned to occur
Properties of Aspirin
- Aspirin is the common name for the compound acetylsalicylic acid
Empirical Formula: C₉H₈O₄
IUPAC ID: 2-Acetoxybenzoic acid
Molar mass: 180.158 g/mol
Melting point: 135 °C
Boiling point: 140 °C
Density: 1.4 g/cm³
Main Use:
Mainly used in the medical field:
Analgesics are compounds used to reduce pain, antipyretics are compounds used to reduce
fever. One popular drug that does both is aspirin
Treatment of migraines
Also it hydrolyses when in contact with moist air to salicylic and acetic acids
Anti inflammatory and anti coagularity
Lesson Work
1 - Research
- Went through the notification
- Made a rough plan for the seven lessons
- Planned for Lesson 2 in depth
- (risk assessment, method, INCLUDE HYPOTHESIS and
order form)
- Secondary research: properties of aspirin, chemical
equations and inquire into process of synthesis
- Equations
- Calculation of amount of salicylic acid used
2 - Conduct synthesis
3 - Analysis/Melting Point
4 - Titration analysis
5 - Spectroscopic analysi s
Links we used:
https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Laboratory_Experiments/
Wet_Lab_Experiments/Organic_Chemistry_Labs/Experiments/
1%3A__Synthesis_of_Aspirin_(Experiment)
https://www.lahc.edu/classes/chemistry/arias/Exp%205%20-%20AspirinF11.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4NMpO1xI8U
https://edu.rsc.org/download?ac=11241
http://web.missouri.edu/~glaserr/3700s10/A01S4.pdf
AIM:
EQUIPMENT:
● Salicylic acid
● Buret clamp burner
● 2ml Acetic anhydride
● distilled water
● 75% phosphoric acid
● ice bath
● 50 mL flask
● beaker of tap water
● filter paper
● Büchner funnel
● Aspirator
● Test tube
● fumehood
EQUATION:
METHOD:
PART 1
1. Place <2.9g of salicylic acid into a 100ml test tube
2. Add the 2mL of acetic anhydride and 5 drops of 75% phosphoric acid/sulfuric acid
a. We did research on which one was better
b.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modul
es_(Organic_Chemistry)/Alcohols/Reactivity_of_Alcohols/
Dehydrating_Alcohols_to_Make_Alkenes
3. Heat the beaker in a hot water bath with a heat plate until all salicylic acid has dissolved.
4. Add 2mL of distilled water while in the hot water bath, remove the test tube after a
minute
5. Add 20mL of distilled water.
6. Leave at room temperature until crystals form.
7. Add 10mL of distilled water to the crystal solution, swirl and then place in an ice bath.
8. Leave in ice bath until significant amount of crystals appear (most sources leave for ten
minutes)
9. Weigh filter paper and watch glass.
10. Set up a Buchner funnel, creating a seal over the funnel with DI water with an aspirator.
11. Filter the crystals out by pouring the crystal solution through the funnel.
Reflection of First Lesson
Secondary Investigation
INQUIRY QUESTION: What are the implications for society due to chemical synthesis of aspirin
Hypothesis: Chemical synthesis of aspirin results in
Entry 2 - 29th
Entry 3 - 30th
4th May -
6th May -
.444 - CRUDE
.192 - RECRYSTALLIZED
50.7 TIMES .192
7th May -
0.116g
12th May -
