Question

one o ОН ld woman to create H3 SO4 OH + CH2COOH OH 0-C-CH3 Salicylic Acid MM 138.12 g/mol Acetic Anhydride MM 102.09 g/mol d 1.08 g/mL Acetylsalicylic Acid MM 180.16 g/mol Acetic Acid MM 60.05 g/mol

What is the role of acid catalyst in this reaction? And list any precautions when using acetic anhydride.

Answer 1

Reaction is acetylation of salicylic acid and acid catalyst like Sulphuric acid is used to protonate the carbonyl carbon in acetic anhydride to increase the polarity of carbonyl carbon , so that oxygen of phenolic OH group in salicylic acid is attack on carbonyl carbon of anhydride. In other word H2SO4 increase the rate of reaction ​​​​​​​​​​

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TOSH cool

Precautions when using acetic anhydride.

1. ​Acetic Anhydride is a HIGHLY CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage.
2. Breathing  Acetic Anhydride can irritate the nose, throat and mouth. High concentrations can cause severe lung damage with coughing and/or shortness of breath.