Fischer Esterification By: Julia Tremble Introduction: As derivatives of carboxylic acids, esters are abundant compounds that often contribute to the fragrances in flowers, fruits, and coffee. Esters are synthesized from either organic or inorganic acids through a process called esterification.2 In this reaction, a carboxylic acid (RCOOH) and an alcohol (R’OH) mix in the presence of a strong acid catalyst to form a neutral, water-insoluble ester (RCOO’R) that gives off a pleasant smell.3 The following is an example of this […]
Isolation of Caffeine from Tea Leaves By: Julia Trimble Introduction: Caffeine is an alkaloid stimulant with a cyclic backbone structure analogous to the purine structures of DNA, giving it the ability to affect biochemical pathways in the body1. In commercial application, caffeine supplements pharmaceuticals and certain beverages such as coffee or tea. Standard tea bags contain 2.00 +/- 0.05 g of tea leaves along with approximately 55 mg of caffeine[1]. Using the proper extraction methods, the caffeine within a tea […]
Synthesis of Salicylic Acid from Wintergreen Oil By: Matthew Rook Introduction: Experiment 3: Synthesis of Salicylic Acid from Wintergreen Oil Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to get students familiar with glass materials often used by organic chemists and how to reflux a mixture and to filter its precipitate, through teaching students how to create salicylic acid from methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil). During the experiment students learns how to use solubility data and then the students learns how […]
By: Mark Nie, Ricky Snow Abstract Soil Invertebrates are an important part of the ecosystem in which they reside. They are often overlooked because of the fact that they are so small and cannot be seen with the naked eye. The following study looks at the species richness of soil invertebrates while comparing two different parks that were in completely different areas. The parks that were compared are Pioneer Park in Kenton County, Kentucky and the second growth of […]
By: Scott Holdren Abstract Dynamic light scattering is used to measure the size of a reverse micelle by determining the diffusion coefficient and average intensity of scattered light of various solutions. These solutions are made using the surfactant Triton X-100 in cyclohexane and varying amounts of water. As more water is added, the size of the reverse micelle increases which increases the scattering of the light from the laser. For the various solutions made, the diameter of the micelle […]
Gas Chromatography to Determination of Percent Alcohol in Crest Pro Health and Listerine Mouthwashes
Determination of Percent Alcohol in Crest Pro Health and Listerine Mouthwashes via Gas Chromatography By: Kiley Morgan, JT Ray, Amy Sizemore, Andrew Puetz Introduction Mouthwash is an antiseptic solution used as a hygienic product for oral health. This antiseptic can kill bacteria, prevent and combat plaque buildup, gingivitis, and bad breathe. The two mouthwashes analyzed in this experiment are Crest Pro Health Mouthwash and Listerine Mouthwashes. These two mouthwashes contain different active ingredients. Listerine’s active ingredients to kill bacteria […]
