ATCC-6538 Posted June 16, 2004 Posted June 16, 2004 Very simple riddle for org. chemists: If you heat tablet of aspirin (this is test for the presence of acetylsalicilic acid), you can smell acetic acid. How is this possible since there is no water avaliable for hydrolysis of ester? Formula: 2-(acetyloxy)-benzoic acid.
YT2095 Posted June 16, 2004 Posted June 16, 2004 I maybe wrong, but it has to do with Dehydration (a similar effect occurs when heated in Conc Sulphuric acid). the ASA molecule has a tenuos bond that at certain vapor pressure breaks down into its original components, one of them being the acetic anydride vapour that will form into acetic acid when it contacts the moisture in your nose. [edit] I`m not an Org chemist, I work with inorganics mostly.
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