The theoretical yield of acetylsalicylic acid in grams that should be obtained from the synthesis is 3.96 g. The closest experimental yield was obtained without using a catalyst for the reaction; with a yield of 3.67 g (93%) of crude acetylsalicylic acid and a yield of 3.39 g (86%) of recrystallized acetylsalicylic acid. These results are relatively accurate. Similar results were obtained for the experimental yield of the reaction catalysed by concentrated sodium hydroxide; with a yield of 3.38 g (85%) of crude acetylsalicylic acid and a yield of 3.04 g (77%) of recrystallized acetylsalicylic acid. The experimental yield for the reaction catalysed be concentrated sulphuric acid was relatively low; with a yield of 2.66 g (68%) of crude acetylsalicylic
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When applying these Rf values to confirm the identity of the produced crude and recrystallized acetylsalicylic acid samples, it can be conclusively proven that in the case of the formation of two or more spots in a single lane of an individual sample, the sample had been contaminated. These contaminations were assumed to be remaining traces of the reactant salicylic acid. The presence of salicylic acid could have been due to an incomplete reaction in the 10 minutes given. In the single lane of the acetylsalicylic acid samples that had been produced without the utilization of a catalyst only one spot had formed. When comparing the obtained Rf values for these samples with the established literal values, their composition can be identified as salicylic acid, without traces of the desired acetylsalicylic acid. This leads to the assumption that without a catalyst the reaction of salicylic acid and acetic anhydride to produce acetylsalicylic acid does not accrue. In the lane of the acid catalysed acetylsalicylic acid only one spot had formed. When comparing this obtained Rf value with the established literal values, the identity of the sample can be deduced to be acetylsalicylic acid, without any traces of unwanted contaminations. Hence, it can be concluded that the acetylsalicylic acid samples produced by utilizing an acid catalyst are purer than those produced with the utilization of a base and without a
When applying these Rf values to confirm the identity of the produced crude and recrystallized acetylsalicylic acid samples, it can be conclusively proven that in the case of the formation of two or more spots in a single lane of an individual sample, the sample had been contaminated. These contaminations were assumed to be remaining traces of the reactant salicylic acid. The presence of salicylic acid could have been due to an incomplete reaction in the 10 minutes given. In the single lane of the acetylsalicylic acid samples that had been produced without the utilization of a catalyst only one spot had formed. When comparing the obtained Rf values for these samples with the established literal values, their composition can be identified as salicylic acid, without traces of the desired acetylsalicylic acid. This leads to the assumption that without a catalyst the reaction of salicylic acid and acetic anhydride to produce acetylsalicylic acid does not accrue. In the lane of the acid catalysed acetylsalicylic acid only one spot had formed. When comparing this obtained Rf value with the established literal values, the identity of the sample can be deduced to be acetylsalicylic acid, without any traces of unwanted contaminations. Hence, it can be concluded that the acetylsalicylic acid samples produced by utilizing an acid catalyst are purer than those produced with the utilization of a base and without a