BTHS AP Chemistry

Experiment 7: Kinetics of Alka-Seltzer Name Date _

Introduction Alka-Seltzer is a combination of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHC03), and citric acid, designed to treat pain and simultaneously neutralize excess stomach acid. It is provided in the form of large effervescent tablets, about I inch (25 mm) in diameter, which are placed (two at a time for the usual adult dosage) in a glass of water. As the tablets dissolve, the base (hydrogen carbonate ion) and the acid (citric acid) react vigorously producing carbon dioxide gas (hence the "Seltzer"), which also produces enough agitation to dissolve the remaining active ingredients. The patient then ingests the resulting solution. The acetylsalicylic acid acts as an analgesic (reducing pain) and the citric acid reacts with the sodium hydrogen carbonate to torm water, carbon dioxide and sodium citrate solution. The carbon dioxide gas produced can be collected to measure the rate of the reaction.

1) Write the net ionic equation here.

Multiple factors can affect reaction rate. Among these are temperature and reactants' concentration, and experiments varying these can be conducted to determine the rate law for a particular reaction. Since we have multiple weak acids in equilibrium with their conjugate bases, we can assume that the solution acts like a buffer, and therefore [UY] will be constant for our purposes. 2) Write the chemical equilibrium equation for citric acid and the citrate ion.

Problem

What are the rate law, rate constant, and activation energy for the reaction between Alka-Seltzer and water?

In this experiment, the concentration of the bicarbonate ion, [HC03-], decreases as the reaction takes place. This change can be monitered by converting the volume of the CCh formed to moles ofCOz, allowing us to then, stoichiometrically, convert to moles of bicarbonate ion. Use the moles of the bicarbonate ion (disappearing) over time to determine the order of reaction with respect to bicarbonate ion. This will give the effective rate law for the reaction. We will separately observe the effect of excess acid on the solution (if there is sufficient acid to overwhelm the buffer system) as part of our experiments. We will also determine the rate constant from the rate law data and the activation energy by conducting the trials at two different temperatures. Materials and equipment Alka-Seltzer tablets De-ionized water Vinegar Marker or grease pencil Paper towels ' Mortar and pestle Erlenmeyer flask, 150mL with side arm Buret with ringstand and clamp Small beaker or vial Rubber stopper and rubber tubing Therm9meter pH meter Hot plate Separatory funnel Funnel support

Experimental

Procedure

1. Each group will receive two Alka-Seltzer tablets for use in their experiments. Break the first tablet into small pieces anet select a piece that masses approximately 1.0 - 1.5 grams andrecord the mass. Cmsh the rest of the tablets into powder so that they can be used uniformly in experiments. Divide the powder into 4 samples that match the mass of the one chunk you saved. (5 trials in total to be conducted.) 2. Set up an apparatus as shown in the diagram. The sidearm flask is attached to the buret on top, and the open buret is attached to the separatory funnel on the bottom. The funnel will serve as a reservoir for water that can be lowered so that the volumes within the funnel and the buret are level, keeping internal pressure of the reaction constant and equal to atmospheric pressure ... Attach buret to ring stand Stabilize funnel but do not attach. This needs to be hand-held while the trials are conducted. Why? Water enters here. Keep level of water in funnel and buret the same. Why?

Vial contains solvent

Alkain Seltzer flask

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Make sure to wipe marks off of buret after each trial.

3. Place one measured amount of powder into the Erlenmeyer flask. Save the other samples of the same mass for
additional trials. Fill the vial with solvent and stand it up in the flask. Put the stopper on the flask and shake to start the reaction. Make sure the level of water in the buret and separatorv funnel are the same and record the volume on the buret every 5 seconds. You can do this with a grease pencil on the buret and then write down the volumes when you are finished with the reaction.

Data and Results

Since the only source ofCOz is BCO)-, which is soluble, we can calculate the number of moles of HC03' by measuring the volume of COz formed during the reaction at each timepoint, convert these volumes to moles, and plot to determine the instantaneous rate of reaction at each timepoint. The final volume for COz converts to the final moles of C02 which are the product of the initial moles of RC03Moles RC03- in solution = total moles COz formed - moles COz formed at your time-point. Once you have moles of RCO)- you can find the molarity by dividing by the volume of the solution. 1. Fill-in data: 2 trials at 2 differents temps, 1 trial w/chunk ,. "'.. u............... '"___ '-'L. Trial/mass! """J.l.I1J

3 2 4

Time (sec):

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

---

---- ---- ----- ---- ---- ---Total timer:

2. [HC03 -] at each timepoint 810 11 12 2tall 4 ini67 1 95 3 Tempz

3. Prepare plot of [HC03'] versus rate o~disappearance

on graph paper and attach.

Questions
1. Determine the order with respect to the bicarbonate ion. Write the rate law assuming this ion is the only factor involved and calculate the rate constant for the reaction at each temperature. Show work.

2.a. How is the rate affected by temperature?

b. Calculate the activation energy using the Arrhenius

equation.

Show work.

3. Predict the effect lower pH would have on the reaction rate. How could you confirm your prediction apparatus? What observations would confirm your prediction?

using the same

4. What were sources of error for your group and how did they affect your results?

p"poi)

CHEMISTRY FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS

, A student performed an experiment to investigate the decomposition of sodium thiosulfate, N~SZ03' in acidic ~oiution, as represented by the equation above. In each trial the student mixed a different concentration of sodium thiosulfate with hydrochloric acid at constant temperature and determined the rate of disappearance of

SzOl-(aq). Data from five trials are given below in the table on the left and are plotted in the graph on the right.
0.060

Concentration (M)

Initial 0.075 (aq) 0.112 Disappearance 0.045 0.088 of Rate 0.125 0.034 0.051 0.030 of0.050 (M $-1) of (aq) SzO/- 0.020 Initial SzO/-

0.010 I 0.05

0.07

0.09

0.11

0.13

Initial Concentration of SZ03z- (M)

.i>!

Identify the independent variable in the experiment.

(b) Determine the order of the reaction with respect to SZ032-. Justify your answer by using the information above. (c) Determine the value of the rate constant, k, for the reaction. Include units in your answer. Show how you arrived at your answer. (d) In another trial the student mixed 0.10 M
NaZSZ03

with hydrochloric acid. Calculate the amount of time it

would take for the concentration of S203 L- to drop to 0.020 M . (e) On the graph above, sketch the line that shows the results that would be expected if the student repeated the five trials at a temperature lower than that during the first set of trials.