Abstract- The objective of the study was to determine the amount of aspirin in a

commercial aspirin product by using ultraviolet spectroscopy. Ultra violet spectroscopy is

the absorption spectroscopy that involves the electromagnetic wavelength in the ultraviolet
range. In this experiment, the aspirin tablet needs to be hydrolysed first to salicylic acid by
reacting it with sodium hydroxide and iron (III) ion. When the aspirin reacts with sodium
hydroxide, it will form the salicylate dianion which is then reacted with acidified iron (III)
ion, to produce a violet coloured complex of tetraaquosalicylatroiron (III) complex. The Beer-
Lambert Law is then use to determine the photon absorptions after ultraviolet spectroscopy
is run using spectrophotometer for a series of standards and sample at 528 nm. From the
experiment,... (result). Concluding statements, telling what the result means.

Keywords: ultraviolet spectroscopy, salicylic acid, Beer-Lambert Law

INTRODUCTION

Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid is a type of analgesic (to relieve

minor aches and pains), antipyretic (reducing fever) and as an anti-
inflammatory medication. It is a substance commonly found in every
households around the world. Although it’s cheap, it is one of the most
useful drugs. Apart of its usefulness, this medicine is poisonous if taken in
large amount. Aspirin overdose can be acute and chronic.

This experiment is conducted to determine the amount of aspirin in the

commercial aspirin tablet using ultraviolet spectroscopy. This method uses
the property of the sample as absorbance to get the intensity reading. When
a beam of light of a selected wavelength strikes an absorbing medium with
known dimensions (sample tube), part of the incident light is transmitted to
the detector and part of it lost by reflections, refraction, and scattering. If
the same beam of light is passes through a blank medium (the solvent to
prepare sample), we still obtain loss in transmitted intensity due to
reflection, refraction and scattering but no loss in intensity due to solute
molecules that absorb radiation. Hence, the difference in the intensity of
light transmitted by the blank and the sample gives the absorption by the
solute.

The amount of aspirin can be determined once it is hydrolysed to salicylic

acid using aqueous base. For it to be detected by spectrometer, the
compound needs to be coloured so that it will absorb light during the
spectroscopy. In this experiment, the aspirin is reacted first with sodium
hydroxide to form salicylate dianion. Then, the acidified iron (III) ion is
added so that it will react with the salicylate dianion producing violet
coloured complex of tetraaquosalicylatroiron (III) complex.
 Salicylate dianion

Salicylate dianion tetraaquosalicylatroiron (III)

After a series of standards and sample is run using a spectrophotometer, a

quantitative analysis on the content of aspirin can be determine by applying
Beer’s Law. When a beam of monochromatic radiation passes through a
population of absorbing species, the radiant power of that beam will
decrease because it is absorbed. Absorbance is linearly related to
concentration, as expressed in Beer’s Law.

A=εbc

Where A is absorbance, ε is molar absorbtivity (L/mol cm), b is path length

through medium (cm) and c is the concentration of the absorbing species
(mol/L).

For analysis using absorbance spectroscopy, the variables that affect the
absorption of a substance must be considered. These are the nature of the
solvent, pH, temperature, and presence of interfering species. This will all
affect absorption. Other than that, the relationship between absorbance and
concentration is examined with the help of a set of calibration standards.
The standards must cover a reasonable concentration range over which a
linear plot of absorbance vs. Concentration is obtained. This line should
pass the origin. The unknown concentration to be analyzed can then be
estimated by simple extrapolation from such a standard calibration graph.