Unit 14: Applications of Organic Chemistry
Making Designer Molecules
Aspirin
Preparing Aspirin
Equipment List
o Salicylic acid o Clamp
o 100cm3 conical flask o Retort stand
o Weighing scale o 100ml beaker
o 10cm3 measuring cylinder o Filter paper
o 100cm3 measuring cylinder o Rubber tubing
o Ethanoic anhydride o Distilled water
o Stirring rod o Hand pump
o Concentrated sulfuric acid o Filtration flask
o Water bath o Buchner funnel
o Thermometer o Timer
Method
1. 6g of salicylic acid was measured directly in a 100cm 3 conical flask using a weighing scale.
2. 10cm3 of ethanoic anhydride was measured using a 10cm 3 measuring cylinder and then
poured in the same 100cm3 conical flask with the salicylic acid.
3. The contents were swirled together using a stirring rod.
4. 5 drops of the concentrated sulfuric acid were added into the flask and mixed for a few
minutes to ensure that they were all well incorporated together.
5. The conical flask was clamped to a retort stand and placed in a water bath until it reached 60
°C.
6. Once the temperature of 60 °C was reached, a timer was started for 20 minutes where the
conical flask was removed from the water bath occasionally as the temperature was not
supposed to rise above 65 °C. A clear liquid would be seen when the mixture was fully
dissolved.
7. The conical flask was left to cool down
8. 75cm3 of water were measured using a 100cm3 measuring cylinder and was poured in a
100ml beaker.
9. The contents from the conical flask were poured into the beaker along with the water.
10. The mixture was stirred using a stirring rod to precipitate the solid.
11. The vacuum filter apparatus was set up using the rubber tubing, hand pump, filtration flask,
filtration paper and Buchner funnel.
12. The aspirin was filtered off using the vacuum filter apparatus.
13. The crude aspirin was then collected and placed on a double thickness of filter paper to
allow it to dry.
Purifying Aspirin
Equipment List
o 25cm3 measuring cylinder o Boiling water
o Ethanol o Thermometer
o Boiling tube o Spatula
o 250ml beaker o Crude aspirin
Making Designer Molecules
Aspirin
Preparing Aspirin
Equipment List
o Salicylic acid o Clamp
o 100cm3 conical flask o Retort stand
o Weighing scale o 100ml beaker
o 10cm3 measuring cylinder o Filter paper
o 100cm3 measuring cylinder o Rubber tubing
o Ethanoic anhydride o Distilled water
o Stirring rod o Hand pump
o Concentrated sulfuric acid o Filtration flask
o Water bath o Buchner funnel
o Thermometer o Timer
Method
1. 6g of salicylic acid was measured directly in a 100cm 3 conical flask using a weighing scale.
2. 10cm3 of ethanoic anhydride was measured using a 10cm 3 measuring cylinder and then
poured in the same 100cm3 conical flask with the salicylic acid.
3. The contents were swirled together using a stirring rod.
4. 5 drops of the concentrated sulfuric acid were added into the flask and mixed for a few
minutes to ensure that they were all well incorporated together.
5. The conical flask was clamped to a retort stand and placed in a water bath until it reached 60
°C.
6. Once the temperature of 60 °C was reached, a timer was started for 20 minutes where the
conical flask was removed from the water bath occasionally as the temperature was not
supposed to rise above 65 °C. A clear liquid would be seen when the mixture was fully
dissolved.
7. The conical flask was left to cool down
8. 75cm3 of water were measured using a 100cm3 measuring cylinder and was poured in a
100ml beaker.
9. The contents from the conical flask were poured into the beaker along with the water.
10. The mixture was stirred using a stirring rod to precipitate the solid.
11. The vacuum filter apparatus was set up using the rubber tubing, hand pump, filtration flask,
filtration paper and Buchner funnel.
12. The aspirin was filtered off using the vacuum filter apparatus.
13. The crude aspirin was then collected and placed on a double thickness of filter paper to
allow it to dry.
Purifying Aspirin
Equipment List
o 25cm3 measuring cylinder o Boiling water
o Ethanol o Thermometer
o Boiling tube o Spatula
o 250ml beaker o Crude aspirin
