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Paul Jones

Mrs. Ryan
AP Bio Science Fair
March 6th, 2010

Journal Entries
I. Title
A. A Study of the Effects of Steam and Humidity on Brand-Name and Generic Acetylsalicylic
Acid (Final)
B. A Study on the Effects of “Steamy-Bathroom Conditions” on Brand-Name and Generic
Acetylsalicylic Acid and the Comparison of Brand-Name and Generic Aspirin
Concentration (Amended 1/10/10)
C. A Study of the Determination of Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA, Aspirin) and an Analysis of the
Effects of “Steamy-Bathroom Conditions” on Brand-Name and Generic Aspirin (Amended
1/5/10)
II. Problem/Observation
A. Over-the-counter drugs and supplements claim that as long as certain conditions are met, it
is safe to store them in your bathroom's medicine cabinet. Oftentimes brand-name and
generic versions of the same drug have the same warnings about storage and storage
conditions. But do they have the same rate of degeneration when stress is applied? Is the
advertised dosage an accurate reflection of how much of something is truly in a pill? Is there
an accurate method to analyze and quantify these questions when they're applied to the
popular analgesic, acetylsalicylic acid, better known as aspirin. In conclusion, is it safe to
store aspirin in a “steamy-bathroom.” (Minor corrections, final)
B. Over the counter drugs and supplements claim that as long as certain conditions are met, it
is safe to store them for long periods of time. Oftentimes brand name and generic versions
of the same drug have the same warnings about storage and storage conditions. But do they
have the same degeneration conditions? Will brand name drugs last longer than their
respective generic versions? Furthermore, are both types of over the counter medications
truthful about the dosage? Specifically, are the brand name and generic versions of aspirin
truly the same? (Amended 1/28/10)
III. Hypothesis
A. Method -
i. The development of a method to quantify results of this experiment is as important as
the results themselves. I hypothesize that I will be unable to execute a method accurate
enough to explicitly quantify data, but I will be able to execute a method precise enough
to be able to compare two data points objectively. This is important because it classes
this study as a comparative study.
B. Concentration
i. With a precise enough method, I hypothesize that I could conclude relative differences
in brand name and generic aspirins, both in untouched and degraded forms. Specifically,
there will be no significant difference in “pure-form” brand name or generic aspirins,
but there will be a small difference in concentration when they are exposed to steam,
the literal “steamy-bathroom.” But the differences in aspirin concentration due to steam
will be equivalent in both brand name and generic drugs. Considering that ASA
degrades at 140° C, and steam is approximately 100° C, I hypothesize it is not a great
risk to have aspirin in “steamy bathroom conditions”
ii. I hypothesis that the name brand over-the-counter aspirin will either be exactly the same
as its generic alternative or better in regards to degradation and concentration.
(Amended 1/05/10)
IV.Equipment, Supplies, and Materials
A. Final
i. Erlenmeyer flasks
ii. Cuvettes
iii. Graduated cylinder
iv. Pipets
v. Volumetric flasks
vi. Spectrophotometer
vii. Brand-name (Bayer) and generic aspirin (Good Neighbor Pharmacy)
viii. Parafilm
ix. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
x. Ferric (III) chloride (FeCl3)
B. Initial
i. UV spectrometer
ii. 1000 mL beaker
iii. graduated pipette, to measure 1.0 ml sample
iv. (6) 15 mL sample bottles containing 14 mL water
v. 100 mL volumetric flask
vi. 200 mL Erlenmeyer flask
vii. weighing boat
viii. Parafilm
ix. Labeling tape
x. Salicylic Acid Standard Solutions (0.00-0.133 mg/mL), labeled
xi. Beakers
xii. Plastic droppers
xiii. Phosphate Buffer Solution, 750 mL for 5 teams
xiv. Acetylsalicylic acid
xv.Methanol (Spectrophotometric Grade) in a beaker, with 3-ml plastic dropper
xvi. Hot plates
xvii. Thermometer 0-100 °C, preferably an alcohol thermometer
xviii. Cuvette for spectrophotometer at 310 nm
xix. Hothands
xx. Funnel
V. Method
A. This method uses sodium hydroxide solution to hydrolyze ASA to produce salicylic acid.
The salicylic acid then reacts with iron (III) to give a complex that absorbs light at 530nm.
This absorption allows measurement using a spectrophotometer. As the study is
comparative, standard (known) solutions of ASA are not required.
B. Preparation (Excerpt)
i. Place one aspirin tablet in a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Add 10 mL of a sodium
hydroxide solution to the flask, and heat until the contents begin to boil.
ii. Quantitatively transfer the solution to a 250 mL volumetric flask, and dilute with
distilled water to the mark.
iii. Pipet a 2.5 mL sample of this aspirin tablet solution to a 50 mL volumetric flask. Dilute
to the mark with a iron (III) solution. Place solution in a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask.
C. Spectrophotometric (Final)
i. Turn on the spectrophotometer.
ii. Adjust the wavelength to 530nm.
iii. Insert the blank (0ppm – cuvet of iron buffer) and set the blank to 0 absorbance.
iv. Obtain an absorbance reading for the aspirin sample.
VI. Analysis of Results
A. The results of my experiment clearly show a decrease of about 25% in the steamed generic
ASA whereas the steamed brand-name ASA retained its structure. This would suggest that
brand name ASA is more durable than generic. But the decreased concentration of the
generic steamed pills shows that steam can definitely affect aspirin strength, and thus
conclusively, one should not let one's aspirin come into contact with steam or humidity in
“steamy-bathroom conditions.” (Final)
VII. Error Analysis
A. My method of measuring aspirin breaks down the aspirin tablet into salicylic acid (SA) and
makes it react with a iron (III) to create a complex that absorbs light at 530nm. But what if
the steam the “variable” pills were exposed to broke down the aspirin into salicylic acid? If
steam breaks aspirin down into salicylic acid, this method couldn't measure it. (Final)
VIII. Conclusions
A. Aspirin concentration is affected by steam and humidity.
B. Based on advertised aspirin concentration and absorbency initial aspirin concentration is
equivalent in both brand-name and generic ASA.
C. Brand-name aspirin has something that makes it more durable that generic aspirin.
D. My method can detect relative differences in aspirin concentration.
IX. Conclusion
A. Steam and humidity degrades aspirin, and it is possible for steam from one's shower to
affect aspirin in one's medicine cabinet. My experiment was able to detect these changes in
aspirin concentration, and accurately, too (within almost 10% coefficient of variation).
Initial concentrations of brand name and generic aspirin were found to be equivalent, but
not necessarily “as advertised” (my experiment was relative, not quantitative). But once
steam is applied, generic aspirin degrades while brand-name retains its structure (perhaps
due to some “coating”).
X. Works Cited
A. "Aspirin." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 1 Jan 2010, 15:00 UTC. 5 Jan 2010
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aspirin&oldid=335288022>.
B. University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, "Spectrophotometric Analysis of Aspirin, Lab 019".
Science in Motion.
C. S. Farrel, Dr.A. Aspirin Stability. Freshman Engineering Clinic I, 2003.
D. Drugs.com, "Asprin". Cerner Multum. 1/4/10 <http://www.drugs.com/aspirin.html>.
E. RxList, "Bayer (aspirin)". RxList. 1/4/10 <http://www.rxlist.com/aspirin-drug.htm>.
F. How Stuff Works, "How Aspirin Works". How Stuff Works, INC. 1/4/10
<http://health.howstuffworks.com/health-
illness/treatment/medicine/medications/aspirin.htm>.

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