The Synthesis of Sulfanilamide - Lab Report Example

Sulfanilamide (which is also known as 4-Aminobenzenesulfonamide) is a sulfonamide antibacterial. It belongs to a group of chemotherapeutic agents called sulfa drugs which were discovered in the 1930s. It has a molecular formula of C6H8N2O2S and molecular weight of 172.2049. It contains the sulfonamide functional group that is attached to aniline chemically. It functions by inhibiting competitively enzymatic reactions which involves para - aminobenzoic acid. When it is administered, it facilitates the dying of micro-organisms since the micro-organism are unable to make folic acid which is essential in cell division (TEBBUTT, Peter, 1998).

It was the first drugs used successfully to combat diseases such as pneumonia, blood poisoning and meningitis. 2.5 ml of 0.1 Ml NaOH is added to the glass wall and 1.8 grams of acetanilide is placed in a dry 50ml Erlenmeyer flask. The acetanilide is melted by heating it gently with a Bunsen burner after which the flask is allowed to cool in the ice bath. In the hood, 5ml of chrolosulfonic acid is transferred to acetanilide and the flask is attached to the apparatus. After ten minutes, the flask is removed and heated in the additional 10 minutes in a hot water bath that is at a temperature of 70oC to facilitate completion of the reaction.

Afterwards, 30 grams of crushed ice are then added to the 250 ml beaker and the mixture transferred using a pipette (while stirring the mixture) onto the ice. The flask is then rinsed using 5ml cold water and then transferred to the beaker containing the ice resulting in the formation of a precipitate. The precipitate is then stirred to facilitate the breakage of bigger lumps. The beaker and the flask are rinsed using ice water. In the hood, a water bath is prepared in the 250 ml beaker at a temperature of 70oC after which the crude is then placed into the Erlenmeyer flask.