What is Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin?
Aspirin is a generic medication used for pain, fever, inflammation, heart attacks, etc. It is commonly prescribed because of its properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti–coagulatory, fever-reducing, and pain-relieving. The major component of Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid which gives it all these properties. This is the reason Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylic acid. Its molecular formula is \[C_{9}H_{8}O_{4}\].
Aspirin is NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) but it suppresses the normal functioning of platelets. It is not recommended during pregnancy and to children with infections. It has various side effects as well such as high dose may result in the ringing of ears, Reye syndrome, nausea, upset stomach, headache, etc.
Acetylsalicylic acid was first produced by Alsatian Chemist Charles Frederic Gerhardt in 1853 from sodium salicylate and acetyl chloride. Soon the drug became famous and Bayer (a drug and dye firm) started producing it on a large scale. Bayer named it Aspirin. It was Bayer’s brand name for the drug. Its popularity declined in 1962 after the synthesis of drugs like paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Formula of Acetylsalicylic Acid
Structure of Acetylsalicylic Acid
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Properties of Aspirin
Physical Properties of Aspirin – It Shows Following Physical Properties
Its molar mass is 180.16 g/mol.
Its melting point is 136 ℃.
Its boiling point is 140 ℃.
It's soluble in water. 3g of Aspirin can dissolve in 1 liter of water.
It is a white crystalline solid at room temperature.
It is weakly acidic in nature. At 25 ℃ temperature, its acid dissociation constant is 3.5.
Its density is \[1.40 g.cm^{-3}\].
Chemical Properties of Aspirin – It Shows Following Chemical Properties
It gets hydrolyzed on coming in contact with moist air. Although it is stable in dry air.
It easily decomposes in the solution of ammonium acetate, carbonates, citrates, or alkali metal hydroxides.
It can be explosive when mixed with air in its powdered form.
It is anti-inflammatory, anti–coagulatory, and analgesic.
Synthesis of Acetylsalicylic Acid
Aspirin is synthesized by the action of salicylic acid on acetic anhydride. It is an esterification reaction. In this reaction, when salicylic acid reacts with acetic anhydride, the hydroxyl group of salicylic acid converts into an ester group. This results in Aspirin and acetic acid. Sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid acts as catalysts. The reaction is given below
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Uses of Acetylsalicylic Acid/Aspirin
Acetylsalicylic acid is mainly used in the medical field. A few of its medical uses are listed below –
It is an analgesic and is used to get relief from acute pain.
It is highly effective against muscle pain, bloating, skin irritation, gastric distension.
It is also used for the treatment of migraine.
It is effective against cluster headaches.
It is used in fever.
It is anti-inflammatory so it is used to treat inflammation.
It is useful in the treatment of those parts of the heart which had an attack.
Aspirin is advised to take after surgeries like PCIs etc.
It reduces the risk of getting cancer.
Side Effects of Aspirin
Although Aspirin is very useful against many diseases, it has various side effects as well. It must not be taken in very high amounts because in very high concentrations acetylsalicylic acid may cause hallucinations and even death.
It causes nausea, vomiting, bloating, muscle cramps, gastrointestinal irritation, gastritis, diarrhea, gastric ulcer, decrease in blood pressure, drowsiness, headache, heartburn, etc.
Aspirin: Summary in Tabular Form
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FAQs on Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin
1. What is Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin - Formula and Structure?
Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin (ASA) as it is commonly known is a widely known drug used in medication for chemically degrading the body’s pain receptors or in simple language, numbing or stopping the pain an individual is feeling. It is crystalline at room temperature and the color may vary from white to transparent. Although Aspirin has no definite smell (no smell at all) but in presence of water content, one may find some acetic acid kind of smell arising from it.
2. What are the uses of Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin?
The students studying chemistry or biology must know why the medication of Aspirin or Acetylsalicylic Acid is taken by people. There are numerous uses of Acetylsalicylic acid or Aspirin. Some of them are body pains such as headache, uneasiness, swelling in certain body parts such as the back end, measles, burns, menstrual pain, burns, rheumatoid arthritis, strains, chronic cold, and other internal problems including mental illnesses like depression, migraines, among many others where the body pain receptors need to be suppressed.
3. What are the properties and side effects of Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin?
According to the notes of Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin available at Vedantu.com, the students get to know the about the properties of Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin such as melting point being 136 degrees whereas its boiling is 140 degrees celsius among many other things which you can read from the aforementioned notes. The side effects of Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin can be seen if a person takes this drug in high amounts such as Hallucinations and even death. It also causes various other problems such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, muscle cramps, gastrointestinal irritation, gastritis, diarrhea, gastric ulcer, decrease in blood pressure, drowsiness, headache, heartburn, etc, and thus, should be avoided.
4. Where can I find the notes for Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin?
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5. Why should I know about Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin?
The students who wish to study biology or chemistry or want to pursue science in class 11 need to know about the drug Acetylsalicylic Acid or Aspirin. Not only is this topic important for your school exams but there have been numerous made and appeared now and then in various competitive exams based on this concept. These notes are comprehensible and easy to read so any student who wishes to learn and understand this topic can do so without any hassle so you don't need to worry.
