Question

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY:

Draw a balanced chemical reaction for the synthesis of methyl salicylate from aspirin tablets. Calculate the theorectical yield for the product in grams using the limiting reagent aspirin, remembering you are extracting FOUR aspirin tablets and there is 325 mg of aspirin in each one.

Answer 1

Solution :-

Following is the balanced reaction equation

Now lets calculate mass of aspirin in 4 tablets

4 tablet * 325 mg / 1 tablet = 1300 mg

1300 mg * 1 g / 1000 mg = 1.30 g

now lets calculate moles of aspirin

moles = mass/ molar mass

         = 1.30 g / 180.157 g per mol

        = 0.007216 mol Aspirin

now lets calculate moles of the methyl salicylate

mole ratio is 1 :1 for the aspirin and methyl salicylate

therefore moles of methyl salicylate produced are same as moles of aspirin

so moles of methyl salicylate = 0.007216

now lets convert these moles to mass of the methyl salicylate

mass = moles * molar mass

mass of methyl salicylate = 0.007216 mol * 152.15 g per mol

                                      = 1.1 g methyl salicylate

So the theoretical yield of the product is 1.1 g