SURGICAL SPIRIT

Defination
Methyl salicylate 5 ml (0.45 to 0.55% v/v)
Diethyl phthalate 20 ml (1.80 to 2.20% v/v)
Castor oil 25 ml
Industrial Methylated spirt sufficient to produce 1000 ml

Identification
A. To 1 ml add 0.5 ml of 0.4 M iron(III) chloride hexa hydrate. A violet color is produced.
B. To 1 ml add 50 mg of resorcinol and 1 ml of sulphuric acid , heat for 1 min, cool, pour in to
water and make alkaline with 5M sodium hydroxide. A distinct green fluorescence is
produced which disappears when the solution is made acidic and reappears when it is
made alkaline.
TESTS
Weight per ml
0.817 to 0.827 g.
Assay
For Methyl salicylate
Diute 5 ml to 100 ml with absolute ethanol, further dilute 10 ml of this solution to 100 mnl
with absolute ethanol and measure the absorbence of the resulting solution at the maximum at
306 nm, Appendix II B. Caliculate the content of C8H8O3 taking the 335 of the absorbence of a
1% v/v solution of methyl salicylate at the maximum at 306 nm a 1 cm cell.