Alka-Seltzer is a medication used to alleviate ailments such as heartburn and acid indigestion1. The ingredients that the tablet is made up of helps explain the name of the medication, the sodium bicarbonate is used to balance stomach acid, help spread the aspirin which allows the speed of absorption to increase, and reacts with citric sodium which produces carbon dioxide2. One initial observation of the Alka-Seltzer tablet and water is that when the tablet was dropped into the water, it began to fizz and make the water look like a carbonated drink such as Sprite. Carbon Dioxide is the gas that humans exhale and what is produced with Alka-Seltzer and water react, the chemical equation of the reaction is, (H2O + C6H8O7 + 3NaHCO3 …show more content…
Using the Flinn Scientific Inc Thermometer, the starting temperature of the water was recorded. One strip of the Hydroin Paper pH Level Strips was selected and placed into the water. Once the paper was placed in the water, the color of the paper strip was compared to the pH level chart and the pH level of the paper was recorded. One sheet of the Kroger Home Sense Paper Towels was folded up to cover the surface of the Veritas Electronic Balance Scale. After placing the folded on the scale a pair of the Alasta Gloves were put on and one Alka-Seltzer (3,241 mg) was removed from the packaging. The 150mL beaker containing water was placed on top of the balance scale and the Alka-Seltzer tablet was placed next to it. The mass of the beaker and tablet was recorded. After recording the initial mass, using the Samsung Galaxy S7, the slow-motion option was selected to film the experiment. Before dropping the Alka-Seltzer tablet into the water, the iPhone 4 was used as a timer and the recorder made sure that the mass on the scale and the timer were visible in the video. The tablet was dropped into the water and the timer was started at the exact time. The data was collected for one hundred seconds. After collecting all of the data, the video footage was reviewed and the mass was recorded for every ten seconds. Once completed, the process was repeated for two more …show more content…
It was predicted that when the pH level increases, the rate of reaction increases. Comparing the average mass’s in Figure 1 and 2, the hypothesis is supported. In Figure 1 and looking at Data Table 1, In the duration of 10 seconds the mass only decreased by 0.1 grams, which is slower when compared to Figure 2 and Data Table 2, where the mass decreased by 0.039 grams in a span of 10 seconds. The rate of reaction in the first Figure 1, slope 1, is showcasing the initial mass of the experiment to 30 seconds. Within the first 30 seconds the mass only decreased by 0.2 grams. Looking at the second slope, which is 40 to 60 seconds the mass only decreased by 0.039 grams. The final slope which is 70 seconds to 100 seconds, increased in mass by 0.007 grams. Looking at Figure 2 and Data Table 2, it is shown that adding the Sodium Hydroxide increased the rate of reaction. Looking at the first slope which is also 0-30 seconds, the mass decreased by 0.094 grams, which is 0.106 grams less than the first slope in Figure 1, meaning that in Figure 2 the Sodium Hydroxide dissolved the Alka-Seltzer tablet faster. In the second slope of Figure 2, the mass decreases by 0.089g in a matter of 20 seconds. The third slope decreased by 0.038 grams. The reason why the rate of reaction is happening at a faster rate is because of the Sodium Hydroxide. During