Aspirin

Most of us have used aspirin at some time in our lives, but few will know that a related compound derived from willow bark has been used to relieve pain and treat fevers for over 2,000 years. Aimed at post-16 students in chemistry, this fully updated second edition contains activities for both academic and vocational courses. Ranging from preparative/analytical to problem-solving exercises, the activities can be used singly or as a coherent package. A guide for teachers and technicians is also included. TOC:How to use this book; Background information: The aspirin story; Experimental and investigation section: The preparation of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid; The preparation of aspirin; Purifying by recrystallisation; The melting point of aspirin; Using thin-layer chromatography to investigate the reaction; The solubility of aspirin; Thin-layer chromatography; Teacher's and technician's guide to the activities.