Question

Old aspirin exposed to moisture often smells like acetic acid (vinegar). When aspirin is heated in boiling water, it decomposes and gives off a vinegar smell. The resulting solution gives a positive FeCl3 test. Why is this test positive? (Please explain in detail!)
Write the chemical equation for the reaction of aspirin and water at high temperature.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Vinegar like smell is given off by aspirin when we tend to heat it in boiling water. The main cause of this vinegar like smell is due to the formation of acetic acid and a phenolic acid upon heating of aspirin.

As a result, it gives a positive test when treated with ferric chloride, that is, $FeCl_{3}$.