Surname 5
The results obtained were susceptible to errors resulting from insufficient time for reaction to be
complete. The reaction involved was organic and therefore occurred at a slow rate. Enough time
would be allowed to improve the percentage yield and the recovery yield. Failure to allow enough
reaction time may have led to incomplete reaction and hence some reactant remained mixed with
the product as impurities. Insufficient time in the ice bath could have also led to low percentage
recovery. During recrystallization, failing to add sufficient sulphuric acid could have also brought
up errors in the % yield; by lowering the purity level. Another source of error could have been the
reagent contamination that would have reduced the purity of the reagents and affect the results.
Conclusion
The synthesis of salicylic acid from methyl salicylate was achieved through the process of heating
under reflux. Sodium hydroxide was used to act as a catalysts. In the purification, the
recrystallization process was carried out with addition of sulphuric acid. During the experiment,
care was taken to avoid making eye, skin and oral contacts with the corrosive reagents and
products. After heating the methyl salicylate-sodium hydroxide mixture, white solids of salicylic
acid were observed. After the heating under reflux, 1.64g of the salicylic acid was obtained. The
% yield of the product was 92.69%. However, after recrystallization, the mass of the product was
1.28g and translated to 78.05% recovery yield. Therefore after allowing enough time and doing
more recrystallization, the ratio of the product; yield would be 1:1. Moreover, the melting
temperature range for the experiment was 158.6-160.0
o
C; which was closer to the theoretical value
of 159
o
C. The possible sources of errors could be the allowing less time for the reaction and
contamination of the reagents.
