Final answer:
The statement that crude crystals of acetylsalicylic acid can be recrystallized with an appropriate solvent to remove impurities is true. Recrystallization leverages the different solubility properties of compounds with temperature changes to purify the desired product from impurities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the preparation of acetylsalicylic acid, the statement that crude crystals can be recrystallized with an appropriate solvent to remove impurities is true. Recrystallization is a purification technique used in chemistry, where a compound is dissolved in a hot solvent to form a saturated solution. Upon cooling, the solution becomes supersaturated and the compound precipitates, effectively crystallizing out of the solution while leaving the impurities dissolved.
The effectiveness of this technique relies on the principle that the solubility of a compound varies with temperature, typically being more soluble at higher temperatures and less soluble at lower temperatures. To ensure successful recrystallization, the impurities should have different solubility properties than the compound of interest and should be present in smaller quantities. This method can efficiently purify compounds like acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin, by choosing an appropriate solvent that maximizes the difference in solubility between the desired product and the impurities.