Which statement best describes the relationship between salicylic acid and aspirin?

• A. Aspirin is an acetylated derivative of salicylic acid.
• B. Salicylic acid is a methylated derivative of aspirin.
• C. Aspirin and salicylic acid are structural isomers.
• D. Salicylic acid is a hydrolyzed product of aspirin.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the structures of salicylic acid and aspirin. Salicylic acid contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) and a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) attached to a benzene ring, while aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is derived from salicylic acid by modifying the hydroxyl group.
2. Step 2: Recognize that aspirin is formed by acetylation of the hydroxyl group in salicylic acid. This means an acetyl group (-COCH\_3) replaces the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group, forming an ester linkage.
3. Step 3: Recall the chemical reaction involved: salicylic acid reacts with acetic anhydride to form aspirin and acetic acid. This is an example of an esterification reaction where the hydroxyl group is converted into an ester.
4. Step 4: Analyze the options given: 'Aspirin is an acetylated derivative of salicylic acid' correctly describes this relationship because aspirin is salicylic acid with an acetyl group attached to the hydroxyl oxygen.
5. Step 5: Understand why other options are incorrect: salicylic acid is not a methylated derivative of aspirin, they are not structural isomers since one is a derivative of the other, and salicylic acid is not a hydrolyzed product of aspirin in the context of this question.