Michael Thomas Harbuck						 		Sanford, FL
CHEM 2046C  										27-04-2008
Herr Doktor Fraser									SCC 2008

I. 	 Aspirin Lab

II.	Purpose – To synthesize a compound (Acetylsalicylic acid) and analyze this compound using available methods and procedures.  

III.	Procedure – Under heat acetic anhydride is added to the salicylic acid to produce acetylsalicylic acid using the prescribed sample weight of salicylic acid.  The heated reaction is allowed to react for twenty minutes.  The solution is then cooled to induce precipitation of the crystals of Aspirin.  The crystals are collected via vacuum filtration, washed, and allowed to dry before being weighed as a yield.  

The analysis begins with the titration of a solution of the synthesized acid.  The three methods of identification are MP, comparing derived pKa  to known values, and a spectral analysis.  

IV.  Data and Interpretation.  -  

Please see the attached data sheet as well as the graphs of the titration curve and the print out of the spectral analysis.  

VI.  Conclusion:  The melting point, spectral analysis, and pKa were all within the range of the knowns for Acetylsalicylic acid.  I found this lab to be the most practical of all which were performed during the semester.    The use of the computer to collect data, as well as the use of the spectral analysis machine was the key to the lab.  

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Michael Thomas Harbuck