Ciencias Naturales

Aitor Daz Tacoronte

THE ASPIRIN

CHARACTERISTIC:
Aspirin is an analgesic / anti-inflammatory often used by people in the world.
The chemical formula of aspirin is C9H8O4 and its scientific name is acetylsalicylic acid.
It is formed by the following elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O).
Although acetylsalicylic acid is a pure substance is the main component of Aspirin
and we use it as a homogeneous mixture, solid slightly bitter taste and off-white.

HISTORY:
The components of aspirin can be found in the bark of the white willow. It was
synthesized in 1897 by a young german chemist, Flix Hoffman. This substance has
been marketed under various names since the beginning of last century but only in the
1970's did scientists begin to understand how the compound works in the body.

USES:
Aspirin is the world's most common painkiller. Aspirin is also effective against fever
and acts as a blood thinner and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is believed
that aspirin is an inhibitor to the synthesis of certain hormones that cause pain and
inflammation and it also prevents cell growth that causes inflammation. Other common
painkillers are ibuprofen and paracetamol.
We can found it in chemist's, in the form of tablets or granules. At present, Americans
consume ca. 80 billion tablets or 16,000 tons of aspirin annually.