Paraphrasing lab report - Essay Example

These values would allow clear differentiation as they are both known and largely differ with methyl salicylate melting at approximately -8 °C and pure salicylic acid at 159 °C. The melting point of the product was found to be approximately 160°C. Other parameters that were also assessed include the Rf of the substance which was found to be (0.35), as compared to the known Rf and co spot of methyl salicylate (0.75) and pure salicylic acid which is (0.33). In addition, the percent yield was determined to be 93,7%.

In summation, the product was confirmed to be salicylic acid and not methyl salicylate due to the values obtained from the TLC tests and melting point. 2. The experimental data illustrated that the purified product has a melting point range of 157-161 °C; in addition, pure salicylic acid has a known melting point of 159 °C; as opposed to that of methyl salicylate which is -8 to -7 °C. The experimental data further illustrated that the melting point of the substance was within the range of 159 °C Therefore, the known melting point of salicylic acid is 159 °C and it is in close range with that obtained in the experiment of 157-161 °C hence concluding that the purified product derived in the experiment was salicylic acid. . In addition, the product obtained in the experiment is in a similar location to that salicylic acid in the xo spot.

Therefore, the values obtained in the TLC and melting point experiments were substantial in concluding the product was salicylic acid not methyl salicylate. The data obtained in the experiments also illustrated that the experiment design was appropriate and the procedure was ideal as the results showed that the production of salicylic acid was successful due to the correlation between the experimental values of the product and the known melting points and Rf co spot values for salicylic acid.

This also showed the purity level of the product as it was within the range of pure salicylic acid; hence showing the majority of the impurities had been alleviated from the final product in the recrystallization process. The percentage yield data gives an indication of the reaction and the amount of the product that is practically possible to obtain and isolate. The experiment had a good percentage yield of approximately 93,7% indicating that 6,3% of the product was lost during recrystallization and removal of impurities and vacuum faltering. Table 2. Rf values Compound Distance of Compound movement (cm) Distance of mobile phase movement (cm) Rf Pure salicylic acid 1.7 5.1 0.

33 Product 1.8 5.1 0.35 Co-spot 1.7 5.1 0.33 Methyl salicylate 3.8 5.1 0.75 Figure 4. TLC plate 3. In the stationery phase the polarity of the compound determines the Rf value. Hence, salicylic acid will have the lowest Rf value as it has the highest polarity compared to silica gel which is also very polar, resulting in both compounds sticking together. However, non polar compounds such as