Hands-on Activity:
    Real or Phony?

    Purpose

    To utilize a classic chemical test for salicylic acid (SA) in exploring the:

    1. Early history of aspirin making through possible “aspirin fakes” and

    2. Molecular structure and reactivity of current commercial pain relievers.
      Menu

      Purpose and Introduction
      Background
      Materials and Apparatus
      Procedure

    Introduction

    Now, after your explorations in Aspirin Adventures, how about doing some hands-on chemical testing procedures? If you answered "yes" to the question, get ready to roll! These activities count on your having spent time learning some of the history concerning the early days of selling aspirin, especially in this country and that you paid particular attention to the Aspirin Intrigue section. In the early part of the twentieth century, unscrupulous entrepreneurs were anxious to profit from the new aspirin market by making “counterfeit” aspirin. Their illegal product labels proclaimed acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) when the actual product was possibly aspirin mixed with cornstarch or flour, unreacted salicylic acid blended with a sodium acetate salt, or just cheap, white, safely ingested solids.

    sodium acetate
    sodium acetate  

    For more information, at other Web Sites...

      3 Fake Drugs Are Found in Pharmacies — from the New York Times, 5 June 2001.

     

    Back to:

    Aspirin Adventures Home | Site Map | Pharmaceutical Achievers Home

      This activity was developed by Professor Johnnie-Marie Whitfield, Millsaps College.
    Copyright ©2001 The Chemical Heritage Foundation