Alka-Seltzer Rockets Lab

Alka-Seltzer Rockets Lab
Nathan Grimes and Austin Gutman
Period 7
Mrs. Hebb
10/22/2020
Essential Question / Purpose:
Chemical Reactions will produce a new substance. There are always signs of a chemical reaction.
Introduction:
Chemical reactions are everywhere, from the plants that create the oxygen that we breathe to the over-the-
counter medicine that we take. These chemical reactions happen with one or more substances. In the
chemical reaction there are reactants/a substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a
reaction. When these reactants react with the different substances, a product/a result of the chemical
reaction is formed. This experiment can be the first step to approaching and understanding the complex
chemical reactions that surround us every day.
Problem:
How does the temperature of the water affect the time it takes for the rocket to launch?
Materials:
 Alka-Seltzer Tablets
 1 Film Canister
 Water
 Graduated Cylinder
 Tape Measure or Meter Stick
 Stopwatch
Safety:
 Never taste chemicals (or other substances) used for a lab experiment.
 Make sure to move away from the container
 Do not try to catch the container
 Wear safety goggles
 If any substance gets into your eyes or in a cut on your skin, notify your teacher and follow his/her
directions.
 Wash your hands before and after an experiment.
 Clean up your lab area and materials after an experiment and return materials to their proper
location.
Variables:
 Independent/Test variable: The temperature of water
 Dependent/Outcome variable: The reaction rate.
 Constant: The amount of water, the container, and the amount of Alka-Seltzer.
 Control Group: Room temperature water.
Hypothesis:
 If the temperature of water increases, then the reaction rate will be faster.
Procedure:
1. Fill the room-temperature water to the mark on the film canister.
2. Drop in ½ of Alka-Seltzer tablet, put the lid on tight and place the canister, lid side down and step back.
(Start the timer the moment you drop the tablet into the water and stop the timer the moment the canister
launches)
3. Record this time on your data sheet. Then repeat Steps 1-4 for the remaining two trials.
4. Repeat the same procedures using the hot and cold water. Calculate the average time to launch for each
temperature of water and record on your data table.
Data Table:
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
Cold 14.35 14.83 15.82 15
Room Temperature 3.51 3.84 3.97 3.77
Hot 2.37 2.49 2.53 2.46
Graph:
Analysis:
The Alka-Seltzer tablets mixed with water in a film canister explode. We found when we made the
temperature of the water cooler it took longer to react, and it would eventually explode, whereas
when we made the temperature of the water warmer the reaction rate was faster. The graph has a
pattern of having a negative slope since we went from cold to hot. This means when going from cold
to hot, the time decreases in the graph.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, increasing the temperature of water will increase the reaction rate. After the
experiment our hypothesis was supported. During the experiment there were many possible
sources of error. Some of these can include the temperature of the air, the amount of Alka-Seltzer
broken in half, and the amount of water/Alka-Seltzer left in the cup after a trial. Some questions
that can help with further research can include does the speed of the lid of the rocket change at
different temperatures and does the amount of water affect the reaction rate? Looking at the data
table above, the higher the temperature the faster the reaction rate. This is the case because, when
temperature increases the particles move faster making the chemical reaction rate increase.
Things that could be added to the experiment to speed it up can include, a larger amount of Alka-
Seltzer or a higher amount of water to dissolve in. With a larger amount of Alka-Seltzer, the reaction
rate will speed up because there is a higher amount/concentration that will react with the water.
Changing the water can speed up the reaction time because there is more water to react with the
Alka-Seltzer. Overall, when you increase the temperature of the water the reaction rate is faster.
When the water is a higher temperature the energy is faster which makes the reaction time faster.
Research: Other factors that could affect reactions rates can include the concentration of Alka-
Seltzer and the amount of water. If I wanted to make this experiment faster then, I can increase the
amount of Alka-Seltzer to make the reaction quicker.

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How does the temperature of water affect the reaction rate of Alka-Seltzer tablets?

What are the independent and dependent variables in this experiment?

Nathan Grimes and Austin Gutman

Essential Question / Purpose:

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