Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: khushi on December 12, 2005, 05:17:23 PM
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I've been doing research on Aspirin(Acetylsalicylic Acid). One thing I need to know is about it's solubility in water. I know that Acetylsalicylic acid isn't very soluble in water. I've tried researching on the net and so far i haven't really got it, but I think i'm onto something. Basically I think that Acetylsalicylic Acid isn't very soluble in water because of it's polarity. Water is a polar molecule, and I think Acetylsalicylic Acid isn't. That's all i got so far...:S...so if anyone could help understand it more like how is Acetylsalicylic Acid a non polar molecule?...please do. I really don't think that two line explanation is worth anything. And what would be a good solvent for Acetylsalicylic Acid...oviously a non polar solvent right?..."like dissolves like"
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You are correct, acetylsalicylic acid is not polar enough to disolve in water. However, you can make it water soluble by treating with aqueous base, which will convert the acetylsalicilic acid to a soluble salt in an acid-base reaction (formin acetylsalicylate).
Based on experience, I know that acetylsalicylic acid is soluble in moderately polar solvens like ethyl acetate, acetone, and isopropanol.