Acetanilide is prepared from aniline when it reacts with acetic anhydride/glacial acetic acid in the presence of zinc dust. A mixture of aniline, glacial acetic acid, acetic anhydride and zinc dust is refluxed under anhydrous condition and then poured the mixture into ice cold water to get acetic anhydride precipitate.

What are the requirements of the preparation of acetanilide?

Requirements – Round bottom flask of 100 ml, wire gauze, tripod stand, burner, clamp, reflux condenser, stirrer, filter paper, beaker, pipette, electronic balance, iron stand, measuring cylinder, aniline (20 ml), acetic anhydride and glacial acetic acid mixture (40 ml), zinc dust.

Where does acetanilide come from?

In terms of how acetanilide is synthesized, it's most commonly made by reacting aniline with either acetyl chloride or acetic anhydride. Although both methods work equally well, the preparation from acetic anhydride tends to be preferred due to the corrosiveness and toxicity of acetyl chloride.