The Ferric Chloride Test is used in this experiment to determine the presence of phenols. What colors are indicative of a positive and negative test respectively? What color would be expected for salicylic acid and what color would be expected for aspirin?1) A negative test provides a violet color which would be present with aspirin. A positive test provides no more than a light violet color, as would be seen when salicylic acid undergoes the test.2) A positive test provides a violet color which would be present with aspirin. A negative test provides no more than a light violet color, as would be seen when salicylic acid undergoes the test.3) A negative test provides a violet color which would be present with salicylic acid. A positive test provides no more than a light violet color, as would be seen when aspirin undergoes the test.4) A positive test provides a violet color which would be present with salicylic acid. A negative test provides no more than a light violet color, as would be seen when aspirin undergoes the test.

The expected indicative colors for positive and negative Ferric Chloride test are to be explained. What color would be expected for salicylic acid and what color would be expected for aspirin is to be determined. Ferric chloride test is used to determine the presence of phenol. A few crystals of the compound to be tested dissolved in 5 mL water and add 10 drops of aqueous 1% ferric chloride solution. Formation of an iron-phenol complex with Fe(lll) gives a definite color ranging from red to violet, depending upon the particular phenol present. The positive ferric chloride test indicated by colors red to violet, purple and the negative test indicated with no more production of complexes with these colors red to violet. Complete reaction of salicylic acid with acetic anhydride substitutes an ester for the phenolic group and forms aspirin. Salicylic acid contains a phenolic –OH group turns violet with ferric chloride and gives a positive test. Aspirin does not have phenolic -OH group and it will give a negative test with ferric chloride. Thus, the correct option is, 4) A positive test provides a violet color which would be present with salicylic acid. A negative test provides no more than a light violet color, as would be seen when aspirin undergoes the test.