Alumina Synthesis

The results displayed in Table 1 provide the weights of unknown D prior to filtration and after crystallization. Due to the fact that the starting product of this experiment was an impure substance of acetyl salicylic acid, it weighed more than the purified end result, or crystals. This was due to the impurities included in the starting product. The impurities in the solid form were filtered out of the solution through the column with methanol. These impurities could potentially include active pharmaceutical ingredients and other ingredients such as a binder to keep the tablet from falling apart, or a coating to facilitate swallowing, and also colorants. Some drugs also contain caffeine or buffering agents which can be considered impurities. The percent recovery is stated as 38.22%, which directly correlates with the melting point shown in table 2. The higher percent recovery would result in a lower melting point, due to the fact that there would be a larger amount of impurities in the final

The impurities in the solution easily travel around the large chunks of alumina, whereas if the alumina was crushed, more of the impurities would be filtrated out of the solution. Another improvement that can be made is to use a longer column to filter the aspirin solution through. A longer column will allow for further filtration of the solution. One last improvement that can be added to this experiment is to use TLC chromatography, instead of column chromatography, in order to separate out the components in the drug mixtures. Due to the fact that this experiment involves over the counter drugs and pharmaceutically active ingredients, this procedure can be used in the making of medicine. In order to determine amounts of specific ingredients and properties of the ingredients, this experiment can provide