Our Advanced Placement chemistry class traveled to the University at Albany on Wednesday to explore a fascinating topic: the synthesis of aspirin!
While an aspirin tablet may look simple, students learned firsthand about the many steps that must be carefully completed to combine salicylic acid and acetic anhydride to cause the chemical reaction that results in aspirin.
After putting on their personal protective equipment, students utilized a variety of tools to conduct the lab, such as Erlenmeyer flasks, pipettes, a hot plate and a Buchner funnel top. After completing the chemical reaction, they tested the purity of the aspirin utilizing ferric chloride solution, which turns purple if the starting material, salicylic acid, is still present.
During this immersive learning experience, students were able to make connections between the concepts they are studying in their coursework and the real-world application of chemistry in the field of pharmacology.
We thank the University at Albany for welcoming our students to their lab, as well as Innovation Academy Principal Rick Shea and chemistry teacher Eileen Ragone for making this educational field trip possible!
to see photos of our Falcon scientists at work.