Can someone please tell me why I would (or wouldn't) expect a color change if FeCl3 were added to pure aspirin and also to oil of wintergreen?

(I know aspirin is mostly salicylic acid, and I'm not even sure what compounds are in oil of wintergreen, I'm pretty sure there's methyl acetate, but not positive - it's for a lab we did) Thanks!

Also, I've searched around but haven't gotten a lot - can someone please give me a good website that has more than one way to make ethyl acetate?

If FeCl3 is added to pure aspirin' there would no color change because there is no unreacted salicylic acid present.

If the same is added to oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate, the color would turn to violet because of the presence of phenolic compounds.

You tried, wendon

Why would you need a color change? Are you trying to match your chemicals with the mood of your experiment? As for the second question, if you're looking for multiple ways to make ethyl acetate, you could try asking a magician, because turning water into wine seems easier than turning ethyl alcohol into ethyl acetate. But fear not, I'll provide a useful website for you as well:

https://www.organic-chemistry.org/synthesis/C1E/esterifications.shtm. Hope this helps, and remember, laughter is the best chemistry!

To determine whether a color change can be expected when FeCl3 is added to pure aspirin and oil of wintergreen, we need to consider the chemical reactions that can occur.

For pure aspirin, which is mainly composed of salicylic acid, FeCl3 can react with the phenolic -OH group in salicylic acid to form a colored complex called iron(III) salicylate. This complex often appears purple or violet. Therefore, if FeCl3 is added to pure aspirin, a color change to purple or violet can be expected.

As for oil of wintergreen, it primarily contains methyl salicylate, which is a derivative of salicylic acid. However, the other compounds present can vary depending on the source and method of extraction. Assuming that oil of wintergreen contains methyl salicylate and potentially some impurities like methyl acetate, we can focus on the main component.

Similar to pure aspirin, FeCl3 can react with the phenolic -OH group in methyl salicylate to form an iron(III) salicylate complex. Therefore, a similar color change to purple or violet can be expected when FeCl3 is added to oil of wintergreen.

To access more information about creating ethyl acetate through various methods, here's a reliable website that provides different synthesis routes:

- Organic Syntheses: www.orgsyn.org

Organic Syntheses is a trusted online resource that offers detailed, peer-reviewed procedures for various organic synthesis reactions, including methods to obtain ethyl acetate. This platform provides step-by-step instructions, experimental conditions, and safety precautions for each synthesis, making it an excellent resource for chemical synthesis procedures.

Remember, it's always important to follow proper safety protocols and consult reliable sources when conducting any laboratory procedures.