Bromination of Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid
Organic Synthesis With Familiar Materials
Oxidation of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Alcohols
Underwater Fireworks: Chlorination of Acetylene
Differences in Miscibility of Organic Alcohol With Increasing Chain Length
Combustion of Cellulose Nitrate (Guncotton)
Different Smells of Carvone Isomers
Distinguishing Between HD and LD Polyethylene
Enviro-bond: Cleaning Oil Spills
Esterification Using a Dean-Stark Trap
IR Demonstration I – Atomic Coupling
IR Demonstration II – Molecular Vibrations
IR Demonstration III – Molecular Vibrations
Reaction Intermediates in Organic Chemistry
Reducing Sugars and Fehling’s Solution
Rod Climbing by a Polymer Solution
Superabsorbent Polyacrylate Gel
Aniline Hydrochloride-Formaldehyde Polymer
Relative Reactivity of Reducing Agents
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction/EAS Reaction
Reactivity of Alkanes vs Aromatic Compounds
Optical Activity of Racemic Mixtures With Limonene
Relationship of Absorbed Light to Observed Color
Density and Miscibility of Liquids
Extraction of Copper Ions from Solution with Orform®
Gel Formation with Sodium Alginate and Calcium Chloride
Hydrolysis of T-Butyl Chloride: A Lecture and Lab Experiment
Organic Synthesis with Familiar Materials
Description: Aspirin is converted to wintergreen in a one-step process that may then be passed around to students to smell.
Source: Journal of Chemical education Vol – 68
Year: 1991 Vol: 68 Page: 502
Keywords: Aspirin, Wintergreen, Synthesis, Sulfuric Acid, Esterification
Rating: 
Hazard: High
- Electric shock hazard
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Acute toxicity hazard – oral, inhalation, dermal
- Flammability hazard
- Burn/scald hazard
- Corrosive to metals
- Serious eye damage
- Specific organ toxicity – single exposure – eyes
- Reproductive toxicity
- Short term aquatic toxicity
Effectiveness: Average
- Results are observable only with guidance
- Mild to no effects are seen by audience
- Time to results is high
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Results are superficially engaging
Difficulty: Medium
- Sequential addition of reagents
- Procedures with some intermediate steps to result
- Reactions at non-standard conditions
- Demos in which samples are passed out to the audience
- Manipulations involving high temperature or reactivity
Safety Precautions:
- UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- Eye protection required
- High temperature gloves recommended
- Absorbent materials on hand
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand for neutralization
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Avoid contact with droplets. mists and vapors
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
Class: Organic Chemistry, Synthesis
Division: General, Organic
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