Alka-Seltzer Reaction Experiment: Temperature and Surface Area Effects

  • Thread starter Thread starter chemistryhelp
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around an experiment involving Alka-Seltzer tablets to investigate the effects of temperature and surface area on reaction time. The scope includes experimental design, data collection, and analysis of results related to chemical reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Experimental/applied
  • Homework-related
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • The experiment involves comparing reaction times of Alka-Seltzer in water at different temperatures and with varying surface areas.
  • Participants discuss the need to record and graph the reaction times against temperature and surface area.
  • One participant expresses a lack of understanding of chemistry and requests assistance with the experiment.
  • Another participant questions whether the request is for them to perform the experiment instead of the original poster.
  • Concerns are raised about the time commitment required for the experiments given the original poster's busy schedule with multiple AP classes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on how to assist the original poster, with some suggesting that the experiment is manageable while others express skepticism about completing it without help.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not clarified specific assumptions about the experimental setup or the expected outcomes of the reactions, leaving some aspects of the discussion open to interpretation.

Who May Find This Useful

Students engaged in chemistry experiments, particularly those exploring reaction kinetics and the effects of temperature and surface area on chemical reactions.

chemistryhelp
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Materials:

Three Alka-Seltzer tablets

Water

Three coffee cups

Ice

Thermometer

Watch with seconds


Procedure:

Chill some water with the ice.

Pour just the water into one coffee cup.

Heat some water and place it in a second coffee cup.

Put room temperature water into the third cup.
Use the thermometer to record, in a data table, the temperature of the water in each cup.

Simultaneously (get help from another person), add one full Alka-Seltzer tablet to each cup and begin timing with your watch.

Record the amount of time needed for each reaction to reach conclusion (stops fizzing).

Graph your results.


Part 2:
Materials

Three Alka-Seltzer tablets

Water

Spoon

Three coffee cups

Watch with seconds


Procedure

On a piece of paper, grind up one tablet with the back of the spoon until it is a fine powder.


On a second piece of paper, chop one tablet into several small pieces but do not grind it.


Fill the three cups with the same amount of water
Note: the water should be approximately the same temperature at the start.


Simultaneously (again, get help), add the ground tablet to one cup, the chopped tablet to a second cup, and the whole tablet to the third cup. Begin timing with your watch.


Record the amount of time needed for each reaction to reach conclusion (to stop fizzing).


Graph your results.
Note: On the Y axis = time of reaction; on X axis where you are putting "surface area exposed" use 1 = for whole tablets; 5 for small pieces; 10 for crushed.


Analysis:

What differences did you observe in the reactions in the three cups in Part I?


Look at your graph of temperature vs. reaction time. Describe this graph in mathematical terms—e.g., linear, parabolic (curved up).


As temperature increases, what happens to reaction time?


What differences did you observe in the reactions in the three cups in Part II?


Look at your graph of surface area vs. reaction time. Describe this graph in mathematical terms.


As surface area increases (smaller particles), what happens to reaction time?


Based on your data, under what conditions would you expect the reaction between baking soda and vinegar to occur most quickly?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What do you need help with?
 
I need help with basically everything, because i don't have time to do these experiments. I take 6 ap classes and regular chemistry and i don't really understand chemistry and have no time. Please help me I am desperate.
 
So are you asking us to do the experiment for you? I wouldn't count on that. It doesn't look too time consuming. You should at least be able to acquire the data fairly easily.
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
23K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
6K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
4K
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
24K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 186 ·
7
Replies
186
Views
93K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
  • · Replies 152 ·
6
Replies
152
Views
11K