MCAT Question of the Day
    •

    Q:

    		 A student wants to perform an acetylation reaction of salicylic acid with acetic anhydride to produce acetylsalisylic acid plus acetic acid. The student begins by mixing the acetic anhydride with water. After adding the salicylic acid, the student notices that no acetylsalisylic acid is produced, but acetic acid is present in the solution. Which of the following best explains the observations?
    		 

    A

    		 The acetic anhydride decomposed in the water into acetic acid.

    B

    		 The temperature of the reaction was too low.

    C

    		 The student did not add a catalyst to the reaction.

    D

    		 The student should have used a heavier anhydride like propanoic anhydride.



    Carboxylic Acids |
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