Product Formulation Portfolio; Evaluation pro-forma 5 (PFPE5) Essay

Product Formulation Portfolio; Evaluation pro-forma 5 (PFPE5) - Essay Example is critically important because Acetyl Chloride is a poisonous chemical and the amount used in the preparation of Aspirin should not exceed the maximum concentration allowed in human consumption products (3). On the other hand, the amount of Acetyl Chloride used is sufficient enough to make salicylic acid the limiting agent (1). For instance, since the reaction is reversible, the presence of excess Acetyl Chloride will force the equilibrium towards the production of the desired end product (Aspirin). The 5 drops of pyridine used are sufficient to neutralize the resulting hydrochloric acid without making the solution basic while at the same time acting as a catalyst for the reaction(4). This is because Pyridine is a base catalyst that plays the dual role of being a catalyst and a neutralizing agent at the same time. Additionally, the use of many drops of pyridine justified because pyridine as a base catalysts is less reactive than most acid catalysts such as 85% Phosphoric acid and, therefore, a greater volume of the ingredient may be required for the reaction to be effectively catalysed. Both the two methods involve acetylation salicylic acid to produce aspirin (acetylsalicylic Acid). However, despite the remarkable similarities between the process of making aspirin using the new formula and the mechanism used in the old formula, the main difference between the two distinct processes is that the leaving group in the new process is a chloride ion as opposed to the acetate ion in the old process. On the other hand, the by-product of the overall process is hydrochloric acid while the old process produces acetic acid as a by product