Could someone please check if my answers to these questions are correct? Thanks
1. What are the differences between phenol and alcohol?Phenol is an aromatic organic compound made up of a benzene ring attached to a hydroxyl group, whereas an alcohol is an organic compound containing a hydroxyl functional group.
2. How can we test a sample to prove that it is a phenol and not alcohol?By reacting the sample with iron (III) salt. If a dark purple-coloured solution results, the sample contains phenol. However, if no reaction occurs and the colour of the solution does not become purple, the sample is an alcohol.
3a. What type of reaction is the synthesis of aspirin?Esterification (condensation)
b. What does it mean when the reaction is written with a double arrow? And what is the effect of this on the yield of aspirin?The double-arrow denotes this reaction as a reversible reaction. Because of this, the water produced as a by-product of this condensation reaction can react with the aspirin produced, hydrolysing the aspirin to produce salicylic acid and ethanoic acid. Hence, the yield of aspirin is quite low and this method of aspirin synthesis is inefficient.
4. What are the two functional groups of aspirin?- Ester linkage
- Carboxyl group
5a. Phosphoric acid is a catalyst in this reaction. What is a catalyst?A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy of that reaction.
b. How might a chemical prove that Phophoric acid acts as a catalyst, rather than as a reactant, in this reaction?(wasn't too sure about this)
By repeating the experiment numerous times and each time using a different amount of H3PO4, while all other variables are kept constant. The mass of aspirin obtained is then measured. If there is minimal to no variation in the amount of aspirin obtained, this proves that because H3PO4 is a catalyst speeding up the reaction rate and not a reactant, the amount of phosphoric acid added does not affected the amount of aspirin obtained.