Chemistry Reaction By Heat Lab Investigation

Question: Does temperature effect chemical reactions?

Hypothesis: Yes, the higher temperature the faster the reaction. (this is for this experiment, it does not necessarily apply to all of them.)

Results: When we put the alka-seltzer in 266mL of hot water, it immediately fizzed up. Stirring was not even necessary. The top was covered in bubbles and the reaction went on for 21 seconds. The tablet was raised to the top by the bubbles and quickly dissolved into the water. The hot water was exactly 50.8 at the time we put the tablet in.

The room temperature water took longer to dissolve the tablet. There were also less bubbles than before while the reaction took place. The bubbles kept on appearing for at least 34 seconds. The water was 24.5 degrees(in other words room temperature).

For the cold water experiment we only used 133 mL of water unlike the other tests because we had to add ice to this one. The reaction lasted for 2 minutes. Not only were there hardly any bubbles for this one but unlike the last two times the tablet stayed at the bottom of the beaker. The temperature of the water was about -.1 degrees.

Conclusion: My team excepted our hypothesis because, after reviewing the notes, we came to the conclusion that the temperature was what made the experiment's results different. When the water was hot the tablet dissolved very fast. When the water was cold it dissolved very slowly, almost adding a minute and a half to the original time. This was the first time we got to work with heat(i.e. heating stuff up, etc.) and it taught us to be very careful with lab equipment. In real life, not only do some experiments have dangerous chemicals in them but they also may have some stuff where you can badly burn your fingers. The only problems we may have had was not burning our selves, we did have some close calls. That, and the fact that for the cold experiment I, instead of getting 133 mL, accidentally got 266 mL like the other two experiments. Luckily Miss. Leland stopped us before doing the experiment but we learned we have to be much more diligent in the future.