Two Step Synthesis

Nikolas Novotny & Eliza Short

Chem 140

Dr. Ron Amel

14 October 2013

Two-Step Synthesis Lab Report

Intro

Chemical synthesis is the construction of a complex substance from simpler ones (Britannica). Chemists use synthesis reactions to get a better understanding of the structures of different chemical compounds (Britannica). In addition, it allows one to produce compounds that do not occur naturally for research purposes, while in industry, synthesis is used to make products in large quantity (Britannica).

Benzoic acid has many practical uses outside of teaching organic chemistry students how to synthesize products. For many years, the only source of benzoic acid was from gum benzoin, a product from a genus of trees known as Styrax (Wikipedia). In 1832, the compound was synthesized in lab while today we use benzoic acid for a variety of applications (Wikipedia). These include food preservation and inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast, and some bacteria (Wikipedia). Thus, it is used as a treatment for tinea, ringworm, and athletes foot (Wikipedia). These are just a few of the many uses of benzoic acid.

In our two-step synthesis, we created benzamide from benzoyl chloride, which we then used to create benzoic acid. Materials consisted of Erlenmeyer flasks, graduated pipets, heating and cooling sources, a Büchner funnel, a scale, glass stir rods, graduated cylinders, and round bottom flasks. These items aided in the reaction processes and the purification of the products. The creation of these products helped us become familiar with the many laboratory instruments. It also allowed us to get hands-on experience with the organic chemical reactions that we are learning in lecture.

The creation of benzamide is prepared by the reaction of ammonium hydroxide and benzoyl chloride (see the following reaction).

+ HCl

+ HCl

+ NH3

The creation of benzoic acid, the final...