Question

- A student is trying to identify an unknown solid based on its melting point. She noted that the compound began to melt at 182°C and finished melting at 187°C. Knowing it is possible for there to be impurities in the sample, is this compound more likely to be camphor or hydroquinone. Explain your reasoning. A young chemist has synthesized what he believed to be acetaminophen. He measured the melting point of this newly formed compound to be 163-178°C. If the literature value for the melting point of acetaminophen = 169-170.5°C, would the young chemist be wise to consume this product for headache relief? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Solution :

A) The compound is camphor because it started melting at 182 °C and finished at 187 °C. The range of melting point is broad (from 182 to 187), which resembles with the camphor. The higher melting point of the compound might be due to incomplete reactions.  

B) The synthesized compound is acetaminophen. The low melting point is due to presence of impurity while high melting point can be due to incomplete reaction. The increase in melting point is due to higher melting point of the starting reactants.