S. Solomon, Chinhyu Hur, Alan S. K. Lee
Feb 1, 1996
Citations
0
Influential Citations
4
Citations
Journal
Journal of Chemical Education
Abstract
Ethyl salicylate is synthesized, isolated, and characterized in a three-step process using simple equipment and household chemicals. First, acetylsalicylic acid is extracted from aspirin tablets with isopropyl alcohol, then hydrolyzed to salicylic acid with muriatic acid, and finally, the salicylic acid is esterified using ethanol and a boric acid catalyst. The experiment can be directed towards high school or university level students who have sufficient background in organic chemistry to recognize the structures and reactions that are involved.