To prepare succinic anhydride.

To prepare succinic anhydride

Theory: Succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid that on heating loses a water molecule and undergoes a cyclization reaction to form succinic anhydride. 

                              succinic anhydride structure

Chemicals Reaction:

Apparatus required: china dish, funnel, cotton plug, tripod stand, wire gauze, pair of tongs,filter paper, etc.

Chemicals required: Succinic acid.

Procedure:

•  Take 2 g of succinic acid in a dry china dish, and add 1 ml of acetic anhydride.
•  Cover the dish with filter paper having small holes in the center.
•  Keep an inverted funnel on the filter paper and close the nozzle of the funnel with a cotton plug.   Place the china dish on the tripod stand with wire gauze .
•  Now heat the china dish slowly and carefully on low flame. 
•  After some time the acid sublimes and anhydride collect on the inner side of the funnel. 
•  Stop heating and remove the funnel carefully with pair of tongs and cool.
•  Collect the needle shape crystals of succinic anhydride on paper and weigh it.

Result:

•  Colour of the crystals  - Colourless
•  The shape of the crystals- Needles 
•  The yield of succinic anhydride- 0.32 g

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