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Running head: ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIEMNT ASSESMENT

Alka-Seltzer Experiment Assessment

Tracy Appleget
Ivy Tech Community Collage

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT

Question: How do Alka-Seltzer and water effect the balloon?

Claim: The balloon will inflate from the reaction from water and Alka-Seltzer.
Inquiry 1
Materials needed: Scale, 2 effervescent tablets, Thermometer, stop watch, measuring tape,
balloon, graduated cylinder, water
Procedures:
1. Gather materials
2. Open package of Alka-Seltzer and break tablets into fourths
3. Add 20 ml of tap water to graduated cylinder.
4. Stretch balloon for more flexibility
5. Measure 1.7 grams (half tablet) of Alka-Seltzer
6. Add 1.7 grams of Alka-Seltzer to balloon.
7. Crush tablet inside of balloon.
8. Take temperature of water and record data
9. While holding the base of the balloon, so that the Alka-Seltzer does not fall out place,
place the tip of the balloon on the top of graduated cylinder.
10. Lift the balloon so that the contents inside the balloon fall into the water
11. Start timer when the Alka-Seltzer is dropped into water.
12. At one minute pinch off tip of balloon.
13. Measure the widest part of the balloon

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT
14. Remove balloon
15. Take temperature of water
16. Write down observations.
17. Repeat steps 4 -14 for two more trials
Observations: While trying to add the Alka-Seltzer to the water we found that doing so that the
contents fell equally was difficult. Starting the timer at the same time that the bubbles start was
also difficult to do. As soon as the Alka-Seltzer hit the water the balloon started inflating. The
bublles started as soon as the poweder hit the water. The contents in the cylinder started
bubbleing up the tube around 3 seconds. At 45 seconds that reaction started slowing down.
When the first trail was completed the circumference of the balloon was 19 1/2 cm. The
temperature of the water after removing the balloon was72 degrees Fahrenheit.
2nd trial observation- The amount of Alka-Seltzer added to balloon was 1.5 g. The beginning
water temperature was water 76 degrees Fahrenheit. The Alka-Seltzer started reacting at 3
seconds. After 60 seconds the balloon measured 19cm at the widest point. The water temperature
was 73 degree Fahrenheit. We noted that the water temperature dropped, while the balloon filled
up with gas.
3rd trial- On the third trial we added1.5g of Alka-Seltzer to water that was 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
At the end of the third trail the widest point of the balloon was 18 cm, water temp. There was a
raise of water temperature of 3 degrees Fahrenheit to 71 degrees Fahrenheit. We noted that the
alka-selzer reacted slower to the colder water.

Key Concepts:

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT
Acid and Base chemical reactions
Inquiry 1

Beginning Temp.

Circumference

Ending Temperature

Trial 1

76

19

72

Trial 2

76

19

73

Trial 3

68

18

71

73.33

19

72

Average

Research:
When the tablet is dropped into the water a simple base and acid chemical reaction is happening.
Alka-Seltzer contains a base, according to the website Howstuffworks.com. The website states
that the reaction that you are witnessing is the sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. The balloon
on the top of the graduated cylinder inflates because the reaction of the base and acid are
producing a gas. The gas that is being produced and released from the reaction is carbon
dioxide.
Inquiry 2
Question: How does water temperature affect the inflation of the balloon?
Claim: The balloon will inflate more with the higher temperature water. The reaction will be
greater.
Materials needed: Scale, 2 effervescent tablets, Thermometer, stop watch, measuring tape,
balloon, graduated cylinder, hot plate
Procedures:
1. Gather materials
2. Open package of Alka-Seltzer and break tablets into fourths

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT
3. Heat water using a hot plate
4. Add 20 ml of heated tap water to graduated cylinder.
5. Stretch balloon for more flexibility
6. Measure 1.7 grams (half tablet) of Alka-Seltzer
7. Add 1.7 grams of Alka-Seltzer to balloon.
8. Crush tablet inside of balloon.
9. Take temperature of water
10. While holding the base of the balloon so that the Alka-Seltzer does not fall out place,
place the tip of balloon on top of graduated cylinder.
11. Lift the balloon so that the contents fall into the water.
12. Start timer when the Alka-Seltzer is dropped into water.
13. At one minute pinch off tip of balloon.
14. Measure the widest part of the balloon
15. Remove balloon
16. Take temperature of water
17. Write down observations.
18. Repeat steps 4 -14 for two more trials
Observations:
Before the tablets are added to water the water measured 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of
Alka-Seltzer added to the water was1.7 grams. At the end of the experiment the circumference
of the balloon was 21.75 cm. The temperature of the water after the experiment was 89 degrees
Fahrenheit. We noted that with the heated water the Alka-Seltzer reacted faster. There was also
a greater drop in the water temperature.

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT
Trail 2
1.5 grams of Alka-Seltzer was added to 96 degree Fahrenheit. At the end of the experiment the
widest part of the balloon measured 20 cm. The water temperature had dropped to 90 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Trail 3
We added 1.7 grams of Alka-Seltzer to water that was95 degrees Fahrenheit. After 60 seconds
the widest part of the balloon was 21 cm. The water temperature was 89 degrees Fahrenheit.
Key Concepts: Endothermic Acid Base Neutralization, Thermodynamics
Inquiry 2

Beginning Temp.

Circumference

Ending Temperature

Trial 1

100

21.75

89

Trial 2

96

20.50

90

Trial 3

95

21

89

Average

97

21

89.33

Research:
With the higher temperature of water we noted that there was a greater chemical reaction.
We also noted that there was a greater drop in the temperature of the water. We can account for
this drop in water temperature due to an endothermic chemical reaction. In the acid and base
chemical reaction we are also creating an endothermic reaction. An Endothermic reaction only
can occur when heat is absorbed. When the water is heated the molecules are moving faster. The
more energy that we add to the water there is more energy for the sodium bicarbonate to use for
its reaction. According to the website SoftSchools.com endothermic reactions occur when new

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molecules being made form more new bonds than those being broken. The result is that the
energy is being absorbed from the surrounding and there is a drop in temperature (para. 1).
In an article by Anne Helmenstine, How to create an Endothermic reaction, she states that
the chemical reaction of the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate is H3C6H5O7(aq) + 3
NaHCO3(s) 3 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(l) + Na3C6H5O7(aq). She also states that this type of
reaction is a endothermic reaction. This is the same chemical formula that was used in another
article by Howstuffworks.com.
Inqury 3
Question: What will happen when Alka-Seltzer is added to Mountain Dew?
Claim: The balloon will pop off of the graduated cylinder.
Materials needed:
Scale, 2 effervescent tablets, Thermometer, stop watch, measuring tape, balloon, graduated
cylinder, Mountain dew
Procedures:
1. Gather materials
2. Open package of Alka-Seltzer and break tablets into fourths
3. Add 20 ml of Mountain Dew to graduated cylinder.
4. Stretch balloon for more flexibility
5. Measure 1.7 grams (half tablet) of Alka-Seltzer
6. Add 1.7 grams of Alka-Seltzer to balloon.
7. Crush tablet inside of balloon.
8. Take temperature of Mountain Dew

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9. While holding the base of the balloon so that the Alka-Seltzer does not fall out, place tip
of balloon on top of graduated cylinder.
10. Lift the balloon so that the contents fall into the Mountain Dew.
11. Start timer when the Alka-Seltzer is dropped into Mountain Dew.
12. At one minute pinch off tip of balloon.
13. Measure the widest part of the balloon
14. Remove balloon
15. Take temperature of Mountain Dew
16. Write down observations.
17. Repeat steps 4 -14 for two more trials

Trail 1:
The temperature of the Mountain
Dew for the first trial was 69 degrees Fahrenheit. There was 1.6 grams of Alka-Seltzer added
to the balloon. At the end of the experiment the widest part of the balloon measure 21 cm.
When the Mountain dew was tested after the experiment it was 68 degrees Fahrenheit. We
noted that the solution bubbled for a much longer time than it did with tap water. The
bubbles climbed the side of the cylinder higher than the bubbles climbed in the first two
experiments. The Solution started reacting before the timer read 2.4 seconds. The Bubbles
lasted longer in the cylinder at 45 seconds the bubbles were still forming in the cylinder.
Trail 2

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1.7 grams of Alka-Seltzer is added to Mountain Dew that was 68 degrees Fahrenheit. After
the experiment the balloon measured 21 cm at the widest part. After the balloon was
removed the Mountain Dew temperature had risen to 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
Trail 3:
The 1.6 grams of Alka-Seltzer was added to Mountain Dew that was 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
After the balloon was removed the widest part of it measured 20 cm. The Mountain Dew had
risen in temperature to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Inquiry 3 Results

Beginning Temp.

Circumference

Ending Temperature

Trial 1

69

21

68

Trial 2

68

21

71

Trial 3

64

20

65

Average

67

21

68

Key Concepts: Acidic PH, exothermic reactions

Research:
Why did the soda cause a larger reaction than the tap water? Soda, in this case Mountain
Dew has a ph. of 3.22, this is according to 21st century dental. The ph. scale is a number scale
from 1 to 14. Wisegeek.com had listed the ph. in the order of acidy. Anything with a ph. of 0-2
is considered a strong acid. When a substance has a ph. of 3-5 it is considered a weak acid. The
ph of 6-8 is considered neutral. Were as, a ph. of 9-11 is a weak base and a item with a ph of 1214 is considered a strong base. Water which is neutral has a ph.

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT
The citric acid in the Alka-Seltzer along with the sodium bicarbonate react when they are
introduced into a neutral environment. When the sodium bicarbonate and citric acid are
introduced into an acidic environment they react faster.
Conclusion

Beginning Temp.

Circumference

Ending Temperature

Inquiry 1

73.33

19

72

Inquiry 2

97

21

89.33

Inquiry 3

67

21

68

Conclusion:
The neutral tap water produced an endothermic reaction when the sodium bicarbonate
and citric acid were added. There was a change of water temperature of 1 degree. When the
water was heated up there was a greater endothermic reaction. The average difference in
temperature was 7.67 degrees Fahrenheit. The balloon in the second experiment increased in
size by an average of 2 cm. It can be concluded that adding heat to the water will increase
the amount of carbon dioxide released from the solution.
When the acidy of the solution was increased by adding Mountain Dew, the reaction was
an exothermic reaction. The temperature of the Mountain Dew after the experiment
increased on an average of 1 degree Fahrenheit. The claim that the balloon would pop off of
the cylinder was not proven. Although the reaction was more intense in the third trial
compared to the two previous experiments, the size of the balloon only creased by 2cm. It
can be concluded that by increasing the ph. of the solution, the sodium bicarbonate and citric
acid will result on average greater reaction.

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT
References
Endothermic Examples. Softschools.com. Retrieved October 27 2014 from: <a
href="http://www.softschools.com/examples/science/endothermic_examples/163/">Endo
thermic Examples</a>
Drinks that eat teeth. 21stcentrydental.com. Retrieved October 27 2014 from:
http://www.21stcenturydental.com/smith/education/pH_drinks.html
Helmenstine, A. (May 2014), Endothermic reaction examples: list of chemical reactions that
absorb heat. Retrieved from About.com. Retrieved 23 October 2014 from:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/lecturenotesl3/a/endorxns.htm
Helmenstine, A. (n.d.), How to create an endothermic chemical reaction. Retrieved from
About.com Retrieved on 23 October 2014 from:
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/endothermic.htm
Helmenstine, A. (n.d.) What does pH stand for?, Retrieved from About.com. Retrieved on 23
October 2014 http://chemistry.about.com/od/ph/f/What-Does-Ph-Stand-For.htm
Krogh, D. (2014). Biology: a guide to the natural world. (ed.5). pages 110-112. Boston,
Columbus, Indianapolis, New York, San Francisco, Upper Saddle River, Amsterdam,
Cape Town, Dubai, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Montreal, Toronto, Delhi,
Mexico city, Sao Paula, Sydney, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo: Pearson
"Why does Alka-Seltzer fizz?" 01 April 2000. HowStuffWorks.com.
<http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/question116.htm> 23
October 2014.

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ALKA-SELTZER EXPERIMENT ASSESMENT
"What is baking powder, and how does it work?" 14 August 2008. HowStuffWorks.com.
<http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/baking-powder.htm> 23
October 2014.
What is the pH Scale?. 27 October 2014. Wisegeek.com retrieved from:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-ph-scale.htm