Question

What can you infer about aspirin’s ester group?

Answer 1

Answer:

Option B, aspirin’s ester group provides greater digestibility to aspirin

Explanation:

Aspirin ester group has three parts

1. carboxylic acid functional group (R-COOH)
2. ester functional group (R-O-CO-R')
3. aromatic group (benzene ring)

Aspirin is a weak acid and hence it cannot dissolve in water readily. The reaction of Aspirin ester group with water is as follows -

aspirin

(acetylsalicylic acid) + water → salicylic acid + acetic acid

(ethanoic acid)

Aspirin passes through the stomach and remains unchanged until it reaches the intestine where it hydrolyses ester to form the active compound.