Question

determining the most cost effective limiting reactant for the synthesis of asprin.

Amount of asprin 290 mg, Salicylic

Answer 1

Ask your teacher or instructor for a chemistry supplies catalog. The catalog will give you the prices. If you are using salicylic acid and acetic anhydride as the reactants, it would be far more convenient to use an excess of acetic anhydride, a liquid, since the unreacted portion can be removed easily as acetic acid. That would make salicylic acid the limiting reagent. I believe that would be more cost effective, too, but I do not have a a price list in front of me.