Wednesday, May 21st: “A” DayThursday, May 22nd: “B” Day (Sr. finals)

Collect BooksCollect Free Homework PassAlka Seltzer Rocket Lab!

Collect Books

If you need a few minutes to say goodbye to your chemistry textbook of awesomeness, please do so now…..

Collect Free Homework PassIf you haven’t used your free homework pass

yet, good for you!Turn it in for 10 pts extra credit!

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”There is no lab write-up for this lab!

This lab will not be graded!

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”

When alka seltzer tablets are put into water, carbon dioxide gas is generated.

In a sealed container, the gas causes an increase in pressure, which must be released.

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”

Alka seltzer is mainly sodium bicarbonate and citric acid.

When these two chemicals are mixed in water, the reaction is exothermic and CO2 gas is generated along with sodium citrate:

H3C6H5O7 + 3 NaHCO3 3 CO2 + 3 H2O + NaC6H5O7

What kind of reaction is this?

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”Purpose/Hypothesis

Purpose:The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate Newton’s

3rd law of motion: “For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction” and to control variables in order to achieve optimum rocket performance.

Hypothesis:How high do you thing the rocket will fly?Which variables will optimize the performance/why?

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”Materials

Safety glassesAlka seltzer tabletsFilm canisters with snap-on lidsWater (hot/cold)Temperature ProbeTimer (can use phone)Meter Stick/tape measure/tapeAny other materials that you may want to try…

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”Procedure Hints

After adding the alka seltzer to the film canister, snap on the lid quickly.

Place the filled canister upside-down on the sidewalk and back away.

WAIT for it….If nothing happens, wait about 30 seconds

before approaching the canister. WHY do you think it didn’t work?

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”Things to think about…

Size of the tabletAge of tabletBrand of tabletVolume of waterTemperature of waterOrientation of canisterShake canisterWhat other variables can you think of…

Lab: “Alka Seltzer Rockets”

Since this lab may be kind of messy, we’ll be going outside to launch the rockets.

Again, I won’t be collecting anything and nothing will be graded, but you still want to make a data table to record your results…

Try to optimize your variables to get the maximum height!