acetanilide impurities in benzoic acid

There are several possible impurities that can be found in benzoic acid due to the synthesis of acetanilide, which is commonly used as an intermediate in the process. Some of these impurities may include:

1. Acetanilide: If the reaction between aniline and acetic anhydride is incomplete, some acetanilide may remain in the final product.

2. Acetic acid: This impurity can be introduced if there is excess acetic anhydride used in the synthesis, or if the reaction conditions are not optimal.

3. Aniline: If the reaction is not completely selective for the formation of acetanilide, some aniline may remain in the final product.

4. Acetic acid anhydride: This compound can be a byproduct of the reaction between aniline and acetic anhydride, and may be present in small amounts in the final product.

5. Salicylic acid: This impurity can be formed if the reaction conditions are not optimal, or if the starting materials are impure.

Overall, the presence and amount of these impurities will depend on the specific synthesis conditions used, and on the purity of the starting materials. It is important to identify and quantify these impurities to ensure the purity and quality of the final product.