CHEMISTRY

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
2023-2024

Apoorv Singh
XII-A
Roll No.: 3
Sch. No.: 5536

INDEX
1. CERTIFICATE
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3. TOPIC
4. INTRODUCTION
5. HISTORY
6. SYNTHESIS
7. USES OF ASPIRIN
8. ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISKS
9. BIBLIOGRAPHY

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Apoorv Singh of class
XII-A of Puranchandra Vidyaniketan has
conducted genuine investigations and
related data collections with original
paperwork, and thusly has successfully
completed the investigatory project titled
‘‘Synthesis of Aspirin’’ under the guidance of
Mr. Mohammed Rizwan (Chemistry
teacher) during the session 2023-2024 in
partial fulfilment of Chemistry Practical
Examination conducted by AISSCE.

Signature of Signature of
External Examiner Chemistry Teacher

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The successful completion of any project would be

incomplete without the acknowledgement of those who
made it possible. I take this opportunity to express my
gratitude and respect for all who helped me in the
completion of this project.
I would like to dearly acknowledge our subject teacher,
Mr. Mohammed Rizwan, for his valuable support,
constant guidance and ceaseless encouragement, without
which, this project would not have come to fruition.
I also cannot fail to mention the immense regard I hold
for our principal, Mrs. Sobhana Mukherjee, for creating
the ideal nurturing environment that fuelled the progress
of this project. I would also like to thank the lab assistant
and the non-teaching staff for their constant support.
Lastly yet importantly, I would extend my vote of thanks
to my parents, friends and classmates whose
encouragement helped me with smooth execution of the
investigatory project.
SYNTHESIS
OF ASPIRIN
Introduction:
Acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as Aspirin, is
a prototypical analgesic with the chemical formula C9H8O4.

It is also known as aspirin or 2-Acetoxybenzoicacid. It

appears as a crystalline powder which is colourless to white.
Generally, it has no smell but when in moist air it acquires a
smell of acetic acid. It has a flashpoint of 482° F.

Aspirin is an effective analgesic (pain reliever), antipyretic

(fever reducer) and anti-inflammatory agent and is one of the
most widely used non-prescription drugs, which is displayed
on the WHO’s List of Essential Medicines.

Chemical formula = C9H8O4 or CH3COOC6H4COOH

History:

Acetylsalicylic acid was launched into the pharmacy industry

more than 100 years ago. While initially conceived as an
analgesic, doctors soon discovered that it had many other
medicinal benefits. The German chemist Felix Hoffman
entered the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company in 1894. In
pursuit of a drug to ease the discomfort of his father’s
arthritis, he looked again at Brugnatelli and Fontana’s salicin,
which had been further modified by chemists to create
pure salicylic acid.
By adding a buffer to the salicylic acid to produce
acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), Hoffman developed a compound
that was better tolerated and had fewer gastrointestinal side
effects. In 1899, acetylsalicylic acid was released on the
market and sold as “aspirin.”
Acetylsalicylic Acid – C9H8O4:

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is a potent, irreversible inhibitor of

platelet aggregation but loses its action after first-pass
deacetylation to salicylic acid (SA).

Structure of Aspirin / Acetylsalicylic acid:

Properties of Aspirin (C9H8O4):

Molar mass 180.159 g/mol
Density 1.40 g/cm³
Boiling Point 140°C
Melting Point 136°C
Synthesis of Aspirin/Acetylsalicylic acid:

Aim: To synthesize Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid)

[from Salicylic acid and Acetic anhydride]

Chemicals required:
Salicylic acid (C7H6O3), Phosphoric acid (H3PO4), Acetic
anhydride (C4H6O3), Ethanol (C2H5OH), Water (H20)
Apparatus required:
Erlenmeyer flasks, Beakers, Test tubes, Buckner Funnel, Filter
paper, Spatula, Dropper, Pipette, Burner, Bowl

Procedure:
Step 1: Dry an Erlenmeyer flask and add 3 grams of salicylic
acid to it.
Step 2: Put 5 to 8 drops of 85% phosphoric acid along with 6
mL of acetic anhydride into the flask.
Step 3: Mix the solution and keep the flask in warm water for
15 minutes.
Step 4: To the warm solution, add 20 drops of cold water
drop wise. (This destroys the excess acetic anhydride)
Step 5: Keep the flask in an ice bath to cool the mixture as
well as for speed crystallization.
Step 6: On completing the crystallization process, pour the
mixture with the help of a Buckner funnel.
Step 7: Use ice-cold water to wash the crystals to minimize
the loss of the product.
Step 8: To purify the product, perform recrystallization. Put
the crystals in 10 ml of ethanol. Stir the mixture to dissolve
the crystals.
Step 9: 25ml of warm alcohol is poured into it and covered to
form crystals as the solution cools. Once the crystallization
process begins, keep the beaker in an ice bath for
recrystallization.
Step 10: The contents of the beaker are poured out and
suction filtration is applied.
Step 11: The excess water is removed from the crystals by
keeping them on dry paper.
Chemical Reaction involved:

Confirmatory Test:
To confirm acetylsalicylic acid, verify a melting point of 135°C.
OR

Ferric Chloride Test:

Add 10 drops of aqueous 1% ferric chloride solution to a test tube
containing a few crystals of the compound to be tested dissolved in
5 mL water and note the colour. Do this test with

1. Phenol

2. Salicylic Acid

3. Your Crude Product

Ferric Chloride, FeCl3, very commonly reacts with phenol groups. If
you add FeCl3 to a reactant that has a phenol group, formation of an
iron-phenol complex with gives a definite colour ranging from red to
violet, depending upon the particular phenol present.

Observations:

SAMPLE COMPOUND RESULTING COLOUR

Phenol Violet
Salicylic acid Dark purple
Crude product (synthesized aspirin) Light yellow

Inference: Resulting violet and dark purple colour of samples of

phenol and salicylic acid respectively indicate to the presence of
phenol group. However, light yellow colour of Aspirin solution
indicates that it does not have a phenol group, however, salicylic
acid, which is used to produce aspirin does indeed have a phenol
group.

Result:
Hence, the synthesis of Aspirin from salicylic acid using acetic
anhydride was successful as also verified with the
confirmatory test.
Uses of Aspirin/Acetylsalicylic acid:

 Aspirin acts as an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase.

 It is used to prevent venous and arterial thrombosis.

 It is used in the treatment of different types of

headaches.

 It is used as an anti-inflammatory agent for long-term as

well as acute inflammation.

 It is thought to reduce the overall risk of getting cancer

and dying from cancer.

 Aspirin is an important part of the treatment of those

who have had a heart attack.

 It is a first-line treatment for the fever and joint pain

symptoms of acute rheumatic fever.
Health Risks Associated with Aspirin:

 Exposure pathways – Skin or eye contact, ingestion, and

inhalation.

 Symptoms – Irritation in eyes, upper respiratory system,

skin, increased blood clotting time, vomiting, and nausea.

 Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is widely used as a

pain relief for mild aches and pains and to alleviate fever.
It is also an anti-inflammatory drug that can be used as a
blood thinner.

 Aspirin is not typically recommended for children aged

under 16 years, since it can raise the likelihood of Reye’s
syndrome, which can arise with an infection, such as a
cough, flu, or chickenpox. It may lead to permanent
damage to the brain or death.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.wikipedia.org
www.byjus.com
www.ncert.nic.in
www.britannica.com
www.khanacademy.org