Extended Essays 2021

 Methanol & Ethanol Risk Assess - Highly flammable liquid & vapour, irritant vapours: To reduce the risks associated with these alcohols, the hot plate was used inside the fume hood to evaporate the excess methanol in the procedure instead of a Bunsen burner (to avoid the possible exposure to an open flame). In addition, it was ensured that there were no open flames when handing the ethanol or methanol during the experiment.  Conc. Sulfuric Acid risk assess - causes severe skin burns and eye damaged: To reduce the risks associated, only the teacher/supervisor could handle the chemical  Methyl Salicylate  Risk of skin/eye exposure to chemicals: Safety equipment such as safety glasses, gloves lab coats were always worn, and extra care was taken to reduce this risk  Risk of injury from breaking glass (condenser, measuring cylinders, glass beakers, volumetric flasks): To reduce this risk, extra care was taken when handling glass equipment. For the condenser specifically, the reflux was set-up inside the fume hood,  Disposal of organic waste: To ensure that all chemical produces were properly dispose, all chemical waste was poured into an organic waste beaker and disposed of properly by the lab technicians Appendix #5: Preparation of the Ferric Chloride Solution (Sajin Kattuvilakam Abbas, 2014) 1. The ferric chloride solution was first prepared by adding 1g of Ferric chloride, weighed by the electronic balance, to the 100 3 volumetric flask. 2. 100 3 of ethanol was then measured with the 100 3 graduated measuring cylinder and added to the volumetric flask . 3. The solution was shaken well to ensure that the regent had completely dissolved 4. The ferric chloride solution was then finalised by transferring 1 3 of the previous solution to the 50 3 volumetric flask and adding 9 3 of ethanol, shaken thoroughly (hence the 0.001% solution of ferric chloride was made). Appendix #6: Methyl Salicylate & Ferric chloride calibration curve (Sajin Kattuvilakam Abbas, 2014) 1. Using the 100 3 graduated measuring cylinders, 100 3 labelled beakers and labelled pipettes, five dilutions of pure methyl salicylate (10, 20, 30, 40, 50%) with the ethanol solvent were made in accordance with table appendix #6 2. Once the 10% concentration of methyl salicylate was made, 2 3 of the solution was added to another measuring cylinder, followed by 1 3 of the ferric chloride solution and 7 3 of ethanol. 3. The solution was then transferred to the labelled beaker [‘10%’] and stirred with the glass rod. 4. On e glass cuvette was filled 3⁄4 with the ethanol solvent and calibrated inside the UV Spectrophotometer 5. The cuvette was removed from the Spectrophotometer 6. A new glass cuvette was filled 3⁄4 with the 10% methyl salicylate solution 7. The absorbance value was measured 8. Steps 2-3 & 6-7 were repeated for the rest of the percentage concentrations (20, 30, 40 & 50%) 1. The reflux system, additional set-ups and materials were organized. The pipettes, beakers, measuring cylinders and volumetric flasks were also all labelled to hold their respective solutions or chemicals. 2. Using the electronic balance and weighing boat, 28 g of salicylic acid (0.2mol) was weighed and transferred into the 250 3 round bottom flask. 3. Using the 10 3 and 100 3 measuring cylinders, 80 3 of dry methanol and 8 3 of concentrated H 2 4 and were then measured and transferred into the round bottom flask. 4. Porcelain chips were then added to the round bottom flask and once the flask was connected to the condenser with the safety clip, the mixture underwent reflux for one hour at the set voltage of 100V 5. After the reflux, the reflux apparatus was dismantled. 6. Once cooled the solution was poured into the 250 3 beaker. Appendix #7: Methyl Salicylate Synthesis & Refinement (Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, 1989)

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