Tips

on preparing for Experiment E2: Preparation of Paracetamol

1. Read the procedures for Experiment E2, complete the ChemCAL Prelabs online (obtain a receipt
number) and fill out the paperwork.
2. Review the LabBytes movies demonstrating the laboratory techniques such as filtering using a
Hirsch funnel. Have a look at these before you come into the lab.
3. You need to write out your experimental method for your report. An example is given in the lab
manual. Make sure you know what is required and should be no more than two short and
concise paragraphs. You can prepare them in your laboratory notebook before the practical
session.
4. You should also think about what you will write for the aims of the experiment.
5. Be able to calculate the theoretical and % yield:
a. Work out the molar masses (g mol-1) for p-aminophenol and paracetamol.
b. If for your reaction p-aminophenol is the limiting reagent, calculate the % yield for a
reaction where you obtain 0.60 g of paracetamol using 0.80 g of p-aminophenol as
reactant, considering I mole of p-aminophenol is reacted to produce 1 mole of
paracetamol.
6. The following gives you an indication of the timing of the experiment. You should easily be able
to keep to this schedule if you are well prepared and confident.
Time
(guideline)
10:00 a.m.
10:15 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

12:00noon

12:15 p.m.
(the latest)
12:45 p.m.
1:00 p.m.

Possible "Speed-up"
Tasks

roll of attendance/ChemCal receipts
demonstrator practical talk (max 5 mins.)
start preparing report
Part A: Preparation of crude product
preparation/cooling/filtering crude product/
transferring product (takes about 50 mins.)
Part B: Recrystallisation and melting point
determination
recrystallisation/cooling/product filtering/
drying (40 mins.)
weighing dry product/%yield calculation
(10 mins.)
melting point determination (10 mins.)
Part C: Spot test for organic functional group
test (5 mins.)
explanation (10 mins.)
report writing including correct format for
"Methods"
start cleaning up
submit report

Pre-Experiment E2 Tips

Maximum
Time Taken

15 mins

starts report writing
while the product is
cooling

50 mins

60 mins

do melting point
while product is
drying on steam bath

15 mins

30 mins

10 mins

CHEM10003

2016

Answers: Tips on preparing for Experiment E2

a. The molar mass for p-aminophenol (C6H7NO): 109.13 g mol-1
The molar mass for paracetamol (C8H9NO2): 151.16 g mol-1

b. The % yield for a reaction where 0.60 g of paracetamol is obtained:
number of moles of p-aminophenol = 0.0073 mol
theorectical yield of paracetamol = 1.11 g (or 0.0073 mol)
% yield of paracetamol = 54.1 %

Pre-Experiment E2 Tips

CHEM10003

2016