Chemistry
Synthesis of Aspirin
Project Proposals for 2005 - Group G

Aspirin is one of the world's safest and least expensive pain relievers. It has a proven record for effective treatment for a variety of ailments like, pain relief, arthritis and prevents stroke and heart attacks. It is the active ingredient in more than 50 over-the-counter medications around the world.

The project entails

  • Synthesis of aspirin
  • Purification by re-crystallisation method
  • v Characterisation and comparison with over-the –counter medicines (Column Chromatography, IR, Gas Chromatography, etc)
  • Titration to determine the quantity of aspirin in a given tablet/sample
  • Mini-project to study the efficacy of the medicine, side effects and over-dosage problems
  • Visit to the production plant to see how the medication is produced on an industrial scale.
The scheme below shows the equation of the reaction to be studied:
Production of aspirin form salicylic acid

Scheme. Production of aspirin form salicylic acid

Participants

  • Mr. Stanley Manzini
  • Ms. Monica Galliford
  • Mr. Alexander Whaley
Project Proposals for 2005

 
  Helga Nordhoff upscience@postino.up.ac.za
  Last updated: 17 Januarie 2005