Physical Properties

When Making decisions about processes, it is important to understand what materials are being dealt wit and handled during the manufacturing process. Federal law mandates that a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) be included with any chemical which is shipped. These sheets contain a wide variety of information about the chemicals. Links to the MSDS for the chemicals involved in the aspirin manufacturing process are included below. By examining these sheets, you will be able to better compare the two reaction processes being discussed. The reactant and products of both the acetyl chloride and the acetic anhydride reaction have benefits and drawbacks which need to be considered
THE MSDS INFORMATION
Glacial Acetic Acid
Acetic Anhydride
Acetyl Chloride
Hydrochloric Acid
Salicylic Acid
Sulfuric Acid

Now that you have had an opportunity to examine the MSDS, which of the two reactions would you choose?
Acetyl chloride Acetic anhydride

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