Post-Lab Questions: Answer the post-lab questions on the back or the report sheet neatly and concisely. Use a blank sheet of paper if more space is needed. Your answer will be graded based on the quality of the answer not the quantity. You are expected to complete these post-lab questions independently as you would any other take-home assignment. All responses must be written in ink. Any lab report written in pencil will not be eligible for re-grade or if a white out ,,as used on the lab report.
1. Calculate your % yield if nutmeg contains 40% trimyristin by mass.
2. Trimyristin (mp. 56 °C) is an ester that can be converted to myristic acid (mp. 54 °C) using a reaction called saponification (shown below). A student isolated and purified trimyristin from nutmeg and then proceeded to do a saponification reaction converting the trimyristin into myristic acid. Suggest and explain, based on what you have learned in this class, how the student could confirm that the starting material was indeed converted into the desired product.
3. Many compounds are extracted from natural products just like trimyristin is extracted from nutmeg. Vanillin sold as vanilla extract can by synthesized in lab or extracted from vanilla beans. Find the structure of vanillin and suggest how one could extract this compound from vanilla beans. Give a brief procedure specifying key points and solvent to be used. Hint: think of the use of vanilla extract.