A student performed the synthesis of aspirin using a water bath at 90C instead of 50C. The final product was tested for the presence of phenols with ferric chloride. This test was negative (no color observed); however, the melting point of the dry product was 122-125 C. Explain these results as completely as possible.
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Salicylic acid which was probably used to make aspirin is a phenol. The negative phenol test indicates that all of the salicylic acid reacted. However, the aspirin produced was not pure. Impurities lower the melting point and make the melting point range wider. It would be hard to speculate what the impurities were since you have not described the purification part of your procedure. It may not be the result of the higher water bath temperature.
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