Carboxylic acids and related compounds
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What is the industrial method of preparation for aspirin? What are the starting materials and what is the balanced equation? Thank you for your help.
Igloo writes ...
Thus the starting materials are 2-hydroxybenzoic acid and ethanoic anhydride.
The equation for the reaction is:
(CH3CO)2O + HO.C6H4.COOH ----> CH3COO.C6H4.COOH + CH3COOH
The mixture of the wtwo reactants is heated to about 90 °C and kept at this temperature for several hours, after which it is allowed to cool. Crystals of aspirin separate out from the solution and can be purified by recrystallisation.
The preparation in the laboratory normally uses the same materials and reaction as above.
Always carry out a risk assessment and check with your teacher before starting any practical work.
Risk assessment
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updated: 18 January 2006
