why does salicylic acid have a higher m.p than aspirin?

Saffie

I've given pics etc for ya :smile:

salicylic acid has a melting point of 159 degrees celcius

aspirin has a melting point of 134 degrees celcius

why?

I need hard, deep underlying chemistry, bondness. You can have rep (over 100) in return, plus that warm feeling when you've helped someone :biggrin:

Please help me :ninja:

Reply 1

mc_watson87

Not sure on this but salicylic acid can form 2 hydrogen bonds between molecules, while aspirin can form 1.

Reply 2

vinny221

yea that extra OH on the sal. acid makes all the difference.

Reply 3

Saffie

ahh i see. ta lovies.

Reply 4

RAYPLETTS

the OH bond totally changes everything. how u considered functional groups?

Reply 5

RAYPLETTS

You should consider functional groups

Reply 6

sea tea

that's what they have done. the salycilic acid has different ones, ie a phenol instead of an acetyl grouping. therefore it forms one more hydrogen bond, making it harder to melt.