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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2002  > January  >
In the Laboratory
The Isolation of Rubber from Milkweed Leaves. An Introductory Organic Chemistry Lab
Lisa Volaric and John Hagen
Department of Chemistry, Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Cover
January 2002
Vol. 79 No. 1
p. 91
Abstract
We present an introductory organic chemistry lab in which students isolate rubber from the leaves of milkweed plants (Asclepias syriaca). Students isolated rubber with a recovery of 2.4 ± 1.8% and 1.8 ± 0.7% for the microscale and macroscale procedures, respectively. Infrared spectra of their products were compared with the spectrum of synthetic rubber, cis-polyisoprene. Students tested for elasticity of their product by twisting it on a spatula and pulling; all students found some degree of elasticity.
Supplement
A student handout, lab prep sheet, and CAS registry numbers of chemicals used are available.
*  Contents JCE2002p0091W.doc (Microsoft Word)
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More Information
*  Citation
 Volaric, Lisa; Hagen, John P. J. Chem. Educ. 2002 79 91.
*  Keywords
 IR Spectroscopy; Laboratory Instruction; Natural Products; Organic Chemistry; Plant Chemistry; Polymer Chemistry
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 December 3, 2001
March 16, 2005
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