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Lord NK

Why use sulfuric acid in synthesis of aspirin?

Bishal Bhadra  Follow

Sulphur dioxide is first oxidised to sulphur tri-oxide using the “contact process”.

The SO3 gas is then dissolved in water to form sulphuric acid.

2SO2(g) + O2 -> 2SO3(g) : A catalyst is required (Platinum)

SO3(g) + H2O -> H2SO4 (aq)

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Michael J. McFadden  Follow

The acid serves to protonate one double bonded oxygen on the acetic anhydride this makes the reaction with the salicylic acid faster. The proton is returned to the acid in the end so it is just a catalyst. Here is a reaction scheme done using phosphoric acid but the mechanism would be the same with sulfuric acid.

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