Sree Ayyappa Education
Centre [CBSE]
Chemistry
Investigatory Project
2024-25
Name: V S Tanushree
Class : XII A
Roll No. :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our Principal
Mr. Nagesh D N, for his constant support and the facilities provided in the
laboratory. I express my heartfelt gratitude to my teacher, Smt. Archana G,
and our Headmistress, Smt. Ameetha Rao, for granting me the invaluable
opportunity to undertake this remarkable investigatory project. Their
guidance and encouragement enabled me to delve into the synthesis of aspirin
from various organic compounds, enriching my knowledge through extensive
research. I extend my sincere thanks to them. Furthermore, I extend my
appreciation to my parents and friends whose assistance was instrumental in
completing this project within the given time frame.
1
TOPIC
PREPARATION OF ASPIRIN FROM
ACETYL CHLORIDE
2
Index
S.No. Contents Pg. No.
1. INTRODUCTION 5
2. AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT 6
3. REQUIREMENTS 6
4. THEORY 7
5. PROCEDURE 8
6. REPORT 10
7. CALCULATIONS 10
8. CONCLUSION 11
9. SAFETY MEASURES 11
10. ME AND MY PROJECT 12
11. BIBLIOGRAPHY 13
3
SREE AYYAPPA EDUCATION CENTRE (CBSE)
NO.9/15, MEDARAHALLI, ABBIGERE MAIN ROAD, BENGALURU-560090
CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
CERTIFICATE
NAME: V S TANUSHREE CLASS: XII A
ROLL NO:
BOARD REG. NO:
This is certified to be the Bonafide work of the students in the
Chemistry department for the Class: XII (AISSCE-2025) during the
Academic Year 2024-25.
Signature of Internal Examiner:
Signature of External Examiner: PRINCIPAL/HM
4
INTRODUCTION
4,000 years ago, the ancient Sumerians stumbled upon a remarkable
revelation: by scraping the bark off a specific type of tree and consuming it,
they found relief from pain. Unbeknownst to them, this discovery would
significantly shape the trajectory of medicine in the future. What the
Sumerians had chanced upon was a precursor to what we now recognize as
aspirin. The active ingredient of aspirin is commonly derived from willow
trees and various other wild plants, which explains how its medicinal
properties permeated through the medical practices of Sumer, ancient Egypt,
ancient Greece, and other civilizations.
Around 400 BC, Hippocrates, often regarded as the father of modern
medicine, made a significant recommendation: he suggested chewing willow
bark as a means of alleviating pain and advocated for the preparation of
willow leaf tea to ease the discomfort associated with childbirth. This early
recognition of the medicinal properties of willow further underscored its
significance in ancient medical practices and laid the foundation for its
continued use in pain management throughout history.
Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, was first synthesized in 1893 by Felix Hofmann,
a chemist for the German firm of Bayer. This compound had the medicinal
properties of salicylic acid, the extract of willow bark, without the unpleasant
taste or the high degree of irritation of the mucous membranes lining the
mouth, gullet, and stomach.
5
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT:
To produce aspirin from acetyl chloride.
REQUIREMENTS:
CHEMICALS REQUIRED
Salicylic Acid - 10 g
Pyridine - 7 ml
Acetyl Chloride - 7.5 ml
Acetic Acid
Conc. Hydrochloric Acid
LABORATORY EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED
Analytical Balance
Erlenmeyer Flask (100 ml, Conical Flask)
Graduated Cylinder
Dropper
Cold Distilled Water
Beaker
Water Bath
Clamp (To hold the Erlenmeyer Flask)
Funnel
Filter Paper
Watch Glass
Glass Rod
Bunsen Burner
6
THEORY
Aspirin is both an organic ester and an organic acid. Aspirin is a weak
monoprotic acid. It is used extensively in medicine as a pain killer
(analgesic) and as a fever-reducing drug (antipyretic). When ingested,
acetylsalicylic acid remains intact in the acidic stomach, but in the basic
medium of the upper intestinal tract, it hydrolyzes forming the salicylate and
acetate ions. Aspirin (molar mass of 180.2 g/mol) is prepared by reacting
salicylic acid (molar mass of 138.1 g/mol) with acetyl chloride (molar mass
of 102.1 g/mol) in the presence of pyridine.
The Chemical Reaction is as follows:
HOC6H4COOH + CH3COCl ---------> CH3COOC6H4COOH + HCl
Salicylic acid Acetyl chloride Aspirin HCl
C7H6O3 CH3COCl (acetylsalicylic acid)
C9H8O4
7
PROCEDURE
Obtain a 100 mL Erlenmeyer flask from the supply area. If the
Erlenmeyer flask contains water droplets, heat it on a Bunsen burner to
remove the moisture.
Weigh about 10 grams of salicylic acid into the Erlenmeyer flask using
an analytical balance. Do not add lumps of salicylic acid.
Measure about 7.0 ml of pyridine in a graduating cylinder then pour
this into the flask with the salicylic acid. Carefully pour pyridine from
the cylinder to the flask drop-wise. Constantly swirl the contents of the
flask using glass rod gently to mix them. The solid may not all dissolve
(If lumps were taken). Do this part in an open laboratory or near a
window and keep it away from your face.
Measure about 7.5 ml of acetyl chloride in a graduating cylinder and
then carefully pour this into the flask with salicylic acid dropwise.
Constantly stir the flask while adding acetyl chloride. Due to the
exothermic nature of the reaction, the flask would become hot at the
bottom.
Cool the hot flask in distil water ice bath for a few minutes. The
content of the flask would become semi-solid (Jelly like) after cooling.
Set up a Bunsen burner and ring stand. Use a 250 mL beaker to make a
water bath. Clamp the Erlenmeyer flask in the water bath. Heat the
water bath to about 75°C. Maintain this temperature for 5-15 minutes.
Move the burner away from the bath when the water gets too hot.
Remove the burner when the semi-solid has been converted to liquid
again.
8
At the end of 5-15 minutes, the salicylic acid should all have dissolved
and been converted to acetylsalicylic acid. Remove the burner, and
cautiously pour the solution in a thin stream into about 300 ml of cold
distil water ice bath, stirring the mixture meanwhile with glass rod.
The acetylsalicylic acid solidifies at once. Wait till no more crystals
are formed.
After cooling, setup a funnel with a filter paper in it. Put this funnel
into a beaker or a flask. Now filter the mixture and collect the solid
crystal residue in a watch glass.
Clean and rinse the mixture with acetic acid to purify it. Take it in a
watch glass and let the excess water evaporate. Measure the weight of
aspirin formed. Collect the sample in a vial or poly zip.
9
REPORT
OBSERVATION
The acetylsalicylic acid formed has the following physical properties
STATE: Crystalline Solid
COLOUR: Colour is white to very lightly pink.
TEXTURE: The texture is brittle (powder like).
SMELL: The smell is similar to that of vinegar.
WEIGHT OF ASPIRIN FORMED:
CALCULATIONS
The limiting reagent here is salicylic acid, hence yield should be calculated
from its amount taken.
Molecular Formula of Salicylic Acid: C7H6O3
Molecular Formula of Acetyl Salicylic Acid: C9H8O4
Molecular Weight of Salicylic Acid: 138 g/mol
Molecular Formula of Acetyl Salicylic Acid: 180 g/mol
Theoretical Yield: 138 g of Salicylic Acid gives 180 g of Aspirin.
Therefore, 10 g of Salicylic Acid will give g of Aspirin
10180
= 13.04 g
138
Practical Yield
Practical Yield
Percentage Yield = 100
Theoritical Yield
10
CONCLUSION
Aspirin was synthesized and the percentage yield was found to be %.
SAFETY MEASURES
• Salicylic Acid may irritate the skin in high concentrations. Take
appropriate care to avoid contact.
• Acetyl chloride has irritating vapours and smell. Avoid inhaling them.
Transfer acetyl chloride drop wise to the graduated cylinder.
• Handle all hot equipments with caution and never leave the Bunsen burner
flame unattended.
• The hot beakers and flasks must be handled with care and should only be
moved using tongs.
• The aspirin is not pure enough for practical use as a drug. It is used only
for investigatory purposes.
• Perform the experiment in an open laboratory. Do not attempt the project
in a closed space. Always keep wearing your mask while performing the
experiment.
11
ME AND MY PROJECT
Fig: Apparatus Fig: Precipitate of Aspirin
12
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://www.webassign.net/userimages/fgdennis@waynecc/
Lab_Aspirin_Intro.pdf
• http://www.lahc.edu/classes/chemistry/arias/Exp%205%20-
%20AspirinF11.pdf
• https://labmonk.com/synthesis-of-aspirin-from-salicylic-acid-usingacetyl-
chloride-and-pyridine
• http://scs.niser.ac.in/labhandouts/C142-Exp-4.pdf
• https://www.scribd.com/doc/112839993/Chemistry-InvestigatoryProject
• https://www.scribd.com/document/332348586/Synthesis-ofAspirin-From-
Salicylic-Acid-and-Acetic-Anhydride
13
