Question

CREATINE SYNTHESIS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB REPORT

***introduction questions****

1: Give a brief introduction to what creatine is, its biological function, and the lab synthesis.​

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION:

Creatine is a naturally occurring organic acid that is produced in body by the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Creatine can be absorbed from food, particularly from meat and fish. When food intake is low, creatine is produced from the amino acids like glycine, arginine, and methionine in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered creatine from skeletal muscles and named it creatine after the Greek word Kreas meaning flesh.Creatine provides the energy necessary for vigorous muscle contraction and has been shown to enhance performance in high-intensity exercise. Creatine supports high energy metabolism of ATP for a short periods of time.

Biological functions:

Creatine increases anaerobic capacity, aerobic recovery, and protein synthesis. In animal studies, it has been shown to give positive results on treatment of traumatic brain injury. It has been reported that creatine is bioavailable in brain and reduces serum.After scientists discovered creatine is stored in intramuscular and plays a role in muscular metabolism, the drug went commercial. Creatine has been used in dietary supplements and has been implemented as supplements to athletes. It is widely used among several age group athletes.

Lab Synthesis:

To a 10 mL round-bottom flask, add 232 mg of sarcosine and 0.5 mL distilled water. Then, add 152 mg of NaCl to the flask. Add a microscale stir bar and stir the mixture. In a small beaker or shorty vial, add 206 mg of cyanamide and 0.2 mL of distilled water. Then, add a drop of concentrated ammonium hydroxide. Swirl the container, and then add the cyanamide mixture to the sarcosine mixture. Stir the new mixture for one hour. Let the mixture sit for one week. After one week, the product should precipitate. If it is still in solution, vacuum filter the solution until the crystals are dry. Then, add the crystals to a clean 10mL Erlenmeyer Flask. If some crystals came out of solution, filter again and add the crystals to the flask.

Isolation and Purification:

Recrystallize the white crystals using 1-2 mL of boiling distilled water. Then cool the solution until it reaches room temperature. Then, cool it in an ice bath for five minutes. Isolate the precipitated by vacuum filtering via Hirsch Funnel washing with small portions of distilled water. Transfer the white needle-like crystals to a tarred watch glass, allow to dry, and weigh determining the percent yield.