Synthesising aspirin

As part of their A-Level Chemistry practical assessment, the Upper Sixth Chemists have been synthesising aspirin in the lab. They had to compose their own experimental risk assessment before carrying out a careful esterification; reacting 2-hydroxybenzoic acid with ethanoic anhydride under strict temperature-controlled conditions to achieve their desired product. Once their reaction was complete, they had to purify their crude product using a process called recrystallisation. All students succeeded and they confirmed the purity of their samples by measuring the melting point and comparing to the expected value for pure aspirin. Students used a range of complex and specialist lab equipment, demonstrating confidence and expertise at every stage. Well done Upper Sixth Chemists!