Tomi Jo Mansell, Eva H., Austeja L., and Matt H.

August 26, 2013 8th Period

Alka-Seltzer Lab
Problem: Does temperature of water affect the rate at which Alka-Seltzer dissolves? Hypothesis: If the temperature of the water is increased, then the Alka-Seltzer tablet will dissolve faster. Materials: 4-9oz. plastic cups 4 Alka-Seltzer tablets 400mL of water (200mL of 29 C water and 200mL of 54 C water) Graduated cylinder Thermometer Stopwatch Marker

Procedure: 1. Gather all the materials. 2. Mark the cups 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. The number is for the trial number and the letter is for the two different temperatures, A being the tap water and B being the heated water. 3. Measure 100mL of the tap water, which is 29 C using the graduated cylinder. 4. Take the temperature of the water to make sure it is the right temperature. 5. Pour the water from the graduated cylinder into the cup marked with 1A. 6. Drop the Alka-Seltzer tablet into the cup. 7. Time how long it takes the Alka-Seltzer tablet to dissolve. 8. Record the time in the data table. 9. Repeat steps 3-8 using the cup marked with 2A. 10. Repeat steps 3-8 with cup 1B and cup 2B, but with the heated water, which is the water that is 54C. 11. Clean up and put materials away.

Results: The Amount of Time it Takes an Alka-Seltzer Tablet to Dissolve in Different Temperature Water (measured in seconds) Tap Water (29C) Heated Water (54C) Conclusion: The purpose of this experiment was to find out if the temperature of water affects the rate at which Alka-Seltzer dissolves. The hypothesis was if the temperature of the water is increased, then the Alka-Seltzer tablet will dissolve faster. The results were that the heated water at 54C dissolved the Alka-Seltzer tablet faster than tap water at 29C. The average dissolving time for the heated water was 20.5 seconds. The average time for dissolving in the tap water was 35.4 seconds. The results were most likely this way because the molecules in the water are moving faster when the water is hotter so fast molecules break the tablet down faster. Some errors that could have occurred were not measuring the right amount of water, and incorrectly timing the dissolving time. I now know that the temperature of water affects the rate at which Alka-Seltzer dissolves. I know that the hotter the water, the faster the tablet dissolves. Trial 1 35.4 20.9 Trial 2 35.4 20.1 Average 35.4 20.5