Here's a breakdown of the reaction:
* 4-aminophenol has an amino group (-NH2) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) on the benzene ring.
* Acetic anhydride is a reagent that adds acetyl groups (-COCH3) to molecules.
The reaction proceeds as follows:
1. Acetylation of the amino group: The amino group in 4-aminophenol reacts with acetic anhydride to form an amide bond, resulting in the formation of an acetamide group (-NHCOCH3).
2. Acetylation of the hydroxyl group: In the presence of excess acetic anhydride, the hydroxyl group also reacts with the reagent to form an ester bond, resulting in an acetate group (-OCOCH3).
Since excess acetic anhydride is used, both the amino and hydroxyl groups will be acetylated, leading to the formation of 4-acetamidophenol (paracetamol).
Reaction Equation:
4-Aminophenol + 2 Acetic Anhydride → 4-Acetamidophenol + 2 Acetic Acid
