PP147 - Preparation of Aspirin

The procedure uses many important skills suitable for post-16 students, including following instructions, safe use of chemicals and equipment, chromatography techniques, recrystallization and melting point. Using Quickfit® equipment for the reaction is not necessary. It is easy though for teachers to adapt the procedure to Quickfit® by carrying out the reaction in Part 1a in a flask fitted with reflux condenser. This is a very long practical which will take longer than one lesson. The instructions are divided into parts so that, if required, the material produced can be saved for another time.