In this lab, I sublimed one known substance (salicyclic acid) and one unknown substance using the following
experimental procedure:
1. Put 50 mg of sample into the bottom of a 25-ml filter flask. The sample is to be either grounded to a fine powder, or to be in a form of a solution and the solvent to be evaporated upon gentle heating to deposit the substance on the bottom of the flask.
2. Close the side neck of the flask with a rubber pipette bulb (or vacuum line in case of high mp substances), and then place ice water in the centrifuge tube.
3. Warm the flask until the sublimation starts then fit the flask with a loose cone of aluminium foil to heat up the side of flask directly.
4. Once the sublimation is complete, remove the ice water from the centrifuge tube.
5. Collect the product by scraping off with the help of spatula, determine the weight, yield (%). In case of the unknown you are required to check melting point and deduce what the unknown
The unknown substance was determined to be Acetanilide.
I'm having trouble with what to include in my results and discussion?? Can anyone help?
Also, I need to answer the following questions:
1. What is the preparative benefit of sublimation?
2. According to your experience, how can you improve the sublimation process?