Question

2-acetoxybenzoic acid is used as:
Antiseptic
Antidepressant
Antimalarial
Antipyretic

Answer 1

Hint: 2-acetoxybenzoic acid is IUPAC name of aspirin. Aspirin is used to reduce body temperature. Antipyretic drugs reduce fever and prevent blood coagulation. Aspirin is used as an analgesic. Aspirin is used to treat fever and to reduce it.

Complete solution step by step:
-Aspirin is also known as acetyl salicylic acid.
-Aspirin is prepared when salicylic acid undergoes acetylation. Acetyl group is added using acetic anhydride. Salicylic acid is also known as 2-hydroxybenzoic acid.
-2-acetoxybenzoic acid is IUPAC name of Aspirin.

-Aspirin inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins stimulate inflammation and cause pain. They also increase the temperature of the body.
-Aspirin also reduces fever by irreversibly binding to cyclooxygenase.
-Antipyretic drugs reduce fever by inhibiting cyclooxygenase and prostaglandins.
-Antidepressants drugs are used to treat depression, anxiety. They work by balancing neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions.
-Antiseptics are applied on living tissues such as wounds or cuts. They either kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms.
-Antimalarial drugs are used to treat or prevent malaria. Malaria is caused by plasmodium parasites which are transmitted by bite of infected mosquitos. Antimalarial drugs target erythrocytic stage of malaria infection.
-As 2-acetoxybenzoic acid is aspirin and aspirin reduces fever, it acts as antipyretic.
Hence, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid is used as (D) antipyretic.
Note: aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid; it is prepared when the phenolic hydroxyl group of salicylic acid undergoes esterification. Aspirin is also used in arthritis to reduce inflammation. Aspirin belongs to class non-narcotic analgesics. Analgesics reduce or abolish pain without disturbing consciousness or causing disturbance of the nervous system.