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Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction Lab Report

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The purpose of this experiment was to perform a nucleophilic substitution reaction to construct a biologically active compound from two simple parts and then to recrystallize the product collected, which is a purification technique that purifies solids based on differences in solubility. In order to accomplish this, other techniques such as heating at reflux, and suction filtration were used. Heating at reflux is a technique used in lab that allows a solution to be heated for a certain amount of time once it begins boiling. Suction filtration is a separation technique that is combined with a water aspirator and was used to collect the product from this experiment, which was 2-methylphenooxyacetic acid. Reaction Scheme: (Draw reaction scheme here) In this …show more content…

Upon the addition of water, it was noted that a layer separation occurred and the water layer remained on top, with the 2-methylphenol layer on the bottom layer. Then, conversion calculations were performed to determine the appropriate amount of 3M NaOH to be added to the 2-methylphenol solution. From the calculations, it was determined that 1.08 mL were to be added. 3M NaOH itself was a cloudy solution in appearance and upon the addition of 3M NaOH to the 2-methylphenol solution, it was noted a color change occurred and it became a yellow-green solution. Following this, the same calculations used previously, were used to determine the appropriate amount of sodium chloroacetate, which was found to be 0.38 g (3.26 mmol). Sodium choloroacetate was a white, crushed solid that was then combined with 1 mL of water and was swirled until the sodium chloroacetate completely dissolved. This sodium choloracetate solution was then transferred to the 2-methylphenol solution by the use of a medicine

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