While the water is heating, accurately weigh about 3 grams of salicylic acid into a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Take the flask to the fume hood where your instructor will add 5 mL of acetic anhydride and 5 drops of concentrated H2SO4. Swirl the flask to wet the crystals. When the water is boiling, place the flask in the water bath. Clamp the neck of the flask to the ring stand so that it is secure and does not float in the water bath. Heat for 10 minutes.