Context 6: Amazing Aspirin
The pharmaceutical industry is a multi billion dollar showcase for all branches of Chemistry. Drugs are substances that affect the natural chemical
processes of the body. When these act positively to change a person’s health for the better, the drug is said to be therapeutic. In this context,
students will expand their understanding of organic chemistry and learn about some common therapeutic drugs. This will focus mainly on the drug
Aspirin.
WEEK
1/2
3
4/5
UNIT
ORGANISATION/
FOCUS
KEY
CONCEPTS
Functional
Groups in
Drugs
S2.11
Identification
of Common
OTC drugs
R1.2
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
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


R3.1,
R3.2,
R3.3
6
R4.2






7

8/9
10


RESOURCES
Define relevant terms and revise organic functional groups and naming with
respect to common drugs (aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, caffeine, nicotine).
Learn names of common functional groups and revisit IUPAC naming system.
Use model kits to build drug molecules (appreciate the existence of familiar
fractional groups within large complicated molecules – discover relationships
and patterns).
Chemistry Detective
(Observe , record and process experimental data).
Devise tests to find an unknown drug.
Addison Wesley Chapters on :
(i)
Hydrocarbon Chemistry
(ii)
Functional Groups and
Organic Reactions (up to
polymerisation)
Model Kits
Handout: Chemistry Detective
Prepare aspirin, assess purity (perhaps titration analysis) and calculate
theoretical and % yield.
Review Year 11 mole calculations – apply and link algorithms to solve
problems and predict outcomes.
Look at the formation of aspirin as an esterification reaction.
Prepare other esters – note their characteristic odours.
Naming and using of esters in flavourings and perfumery.
Research how chromatography operates– operate and apply technology to
collect and present chemistry data
Handout : Preparation of aspirin
Devise experiments to test solubility (qualitatively & quantitatively) of aspirin
and soluble aspirin in different solvents.
Interpret information regarding aspirin metabolism in the body (equilibrium
aspects). Revisit Le Chateliers principle and the equilibrium law.
Written test
Q Chem Expt. 21.6
www.itsjustabox.com/sciencefair.htm
Chemistry is the marketplace
(Separation of caffeine, aspirin
and paracetamol by TLC
Chang P436
The pH balance in your stomach
and antacids.