31st October 2018 S1709716 Hasnain Lakha

Salicylate content determinations of an unknown

solution and an aspirin tablet
Aim
The aim of this experiment was to determine the salicylate content of an unknown solution using a
calibration graph, apply the Beer-Lambert law to determine the extinction coefficient and
determine the actual aspirin content of aspirin tablets.

Experimental
Sodium salicylate solution (10.00 cm3, 0.007246 mol) and acidified iron (III) nitrate solution (50cm3)
were added to a volumetric flask (100cm3), and the flask was filled to the mark using deionised
water. The flask was inverted several times. This standard iron (III) complex solution (10cm3) was
added to five different conical flasks (100cm3) along with deionised water (10.00cm3, 20.00cm3,
30.00cm3, 40.00cm3, 50.00cm3) to give six different concentrations of solutions. Concentration
and absorbance (540nm) was recorded for each solution. Graph of absorbance (y-axis) against
the concentration of the iron (III) complex (x-axis) and the salicylate concentration (x-axis) were
plotted and used to calculate the extinction coefficient. An unknown salicylate sample (10.00cm3)
and acidified iron (III) nitrate solution (50cm3) were added to a volumetric flask (100cm3), and the
flask was filled to the mark with deionised water. Absorbance (540nm) was recorded. An aspirin
tablet (low dose or standard dose) was placed in a conical flask (250cm3) and deionised water
(40cm3), sodium hydroxide (8cm3, 2M) and bumping granules were added. The flask was boiled
gently, without evaporating, using a hotplate, allowed to cool and the solution with washings was
transferred into a volumetric flask (250cm3), which was made up to the mark using deionised
water. This solution (10.00cm3) was added to the iron (III) nitrate solution (50cm3) in a volumetric
flask (100cm3) and made up to the mark using deionised water. Concentration, using the salicylate
concentration graph, and absorbance (540nm) was recorded.

Results

Solution Salicylate Iron Complex Absorbance Extinction

Concentration (M) Concentration (M) (540nm) coefficient (L
molL-1)
Standard iron (III) 7.24599 x 10-4 2.41533 x 10-4 1.131 4682.589
complex
10 cm3 deionised 3.62299 x 10-4 1.20766 x 10-4 0.724 5995.064
water
20 cm3 deionised 2.41533 x 10-4 8.0511 x 10-5 0.550 6831.364
water
30 cm3 deionised 1.81149 x 10-4 6.0383 x 10-5 0.412 6823.112
water
40 cm3 deionised 1.44918 x 10-4 4.88306 x 10-5 0.342 7079.865
water
50 cm3 deionised 1.20765 x 10-4 4.0255 x 10-5 0.195 4844.118
water
Unknown sample 0.213
(A)
31st October 2018 S1709716 Hasnain Lakha
Aspirin tablet 1.02
(standard dose)
Aspirin tablet (low 0.285
dose)

Discussion

Concentration (salicylate solution 0.007246M) = 0.007246 x 0.1 = 7.246x10-4 M

Fe3+ : salicylate is 1:3

Concentration (iron (III) complex) = 7.24599x10-4/3 = 2.41533x10-4 M

Concentration (iron (III) complex) with 10 cm3 deionised water = 2.41533x10-4/2 = 1.20766x10-4 M

Concentration (iron (III) complex) with 20 cm3 deionised water = 2.41533x10-4/3 = 8.0511x10-5 M

Concentration (iron (III) complex) with 30 cm3 deionised water = 2.41533x10-4/4 = 6.0383x10-5 M

Concentration (iron (III) complex) with 40 cm3 deionised water = 2.41533x10-4/5 = 4.88306x10-5 M

Concentration (iron (III) complex) with 50 cm3 deionised water = 2.41533x10-4/6 = 4.0255x10-5 M

ε (iron (III) complex) = 1.131/2.41533x10-4 = 4682.589 L molL-1

ε (iron (III) complex) with 10 cm3 deionised water = 0.724/1.20766x10-4 = 5995.064 L molL-1

ε (iron (III) complex) with 20 cm3 deionised water = 0.550/8.0511x10-5 = 6831.364 L molL-1

ε (iron (III) complex) with 30 cm3 deionised water = 0.412/6.0383x10-5 = 6823.112 L molL-1

ε (iron (III) complex) with 40 cm3 deionised water = 0.342/4.88306x10-5 = 7079.865 L molL-1

ε (iron (III) complex) with 50 cm3 deionised water = 0.195/4.0255x10-5 = 4844.118 L molL-1

A graph of absorbance (y-axis) against the iron (III) complex

concentration (x-axis)
1.2

0.9
Absorbance

0.6

0.3

0
2.41533 x 10-4 1.20766 x 10-4 8.0511 x 10-5 6.0383 x 10-5 4.88306 x 10-5 4.0255 x 10-5
iron (III) complex concentration (M)
31st October 2018 S1709716 Hasnain Lakha

A graph of absorbance (y-axis) against the salicylate concentration

(x-axis)
1.2

0.9
Absorbance

0.6

0.3

0
7.24599 x 10-4 3.62299 x 10-4 2.41533 x 10-4 1.81149 x 10-4 1.44918 x 10-4 1.20765 x 10-4
Salicylate concentration (M)

The unknown salicylate sample (sample A) had an absorbance of 0.213, corresponding to a

concentration of approximately 1.25000x10-4 M

The aspirin tablet (low dose) had an absorbance of 0.285, corresponding to a concentration of
approximately 1.38000x10-4 M

Mass of salicylate (low dose aspirin) = 1.38000x10-4 x 180.15742 = 0.0249g

Conclusion
The mass of aspirin present in a low dose tablet was calculated to be approximately 0.0249g.
Possible sources of error include evaporation of the solution whilst boiling therefore changing the
concentration, slightly different sized tablets, and physical loss of material during transfer between
glassware.