Running head: FINAL INQUIRY PROJECT
Final Inquiry Project
Davina Felix
Ivy Tech Community College
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FINAL INQUIRY PROJECT
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Question #1:
Which form of acetaminophen will dissolve the quickest (caplet, tablet, or gelcap) in the
stomach?
Claim #1:
The caplet will dissolve the quickest.
Procedure/Materials #1:
1. Weigh the 500 mg Equate brand acetaminophen caplet, tablet, and gelcap separately on a
scale (record data)
2. Fill 3 graduated cylinders with 50 ml of lemon juice (pH of 2)
3. Drop the 3 medication forms in separate graduated cylinders and begin timer
4. Time for 10 minutes
5. Drain out the remaining medication by tilting the beaker
6. Leave on coffee filters to dry for 15 minutes
7. Retrieve final weight of acetaminophen (record data)
Evidence #1:
Drug
Initial
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Form
Weight
Caplet
0.6g
0.5g
0.5g
0.5g
Tablet
0.6g
0.5g
0.4g
0.4g
Gelcap
0.6g
0.8g
0.8g
0.7g
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Research #1:
There was not a lot of visible absorption in the caplet and tablet besides the outer shell being
penetrated. The gelcap was messy, heavier and sticky after conducting the procedure. The gel
surrounding the acetaminophen did not dissolve and it held water making it difficult to weigh
differences, even after we allowed it time to dry. This is why the scale got a heavier reading for
the gelcap after each trial. When we first tried the experiment we were using water instead of
lemon juice. While using water with a neutral pH of 8 the caplet and tablet were completely
dissolved in 10 minutes, but in an acid with a pH of 2 (lemon juice) it did not. We needed a pH
of 2 because this is the pH closest to that of the stomach where the medication begins to digest.
“Pure stomach acid has a pH of 1.8 when it first enters the stomach, but is quickly diluted in the
presence of food” (Loomis Enzymes Family of Companies). We initially thought that acid
would cause a quicker reaction than water but it actually did not. Even then, the gelcap had not
dissolved when using neutral water and the gel was very sticky. By seeing this we know that the
gelcap would take longer to take effect on the user than the other two because its shell will delay
the release of medicine. The gelcap would no longer be needed in the experiment if we need to
find which one will work faster. The tablet dissolved the most in the acidic solution. This is
highly due to the fact that the tablet has more ingredients than the caplet and created more
reactions with the acid. When there is a larger variation of items in the stomach there are more
reactions because the stomach is working harder to digest it. Both forms of acetaminophen have
500 mg of acetaminophen, cellulose, corn starch, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, and sodium
starch glycolate. The ingredients in the tablet that are not in the caplet are carnauba wax, FD &
C red #40, yellow #6, iron oxide black, and polysorbate 80 povidine. The only ingredient in the
caplet that is not in the tablet is magnesium stearate. The tablet contained a higher charged metal
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(iron) than the caplet (magnesium) and one of the properties of acid is that it is “corrosive on
metals” (Acids and Bases).
Question #2:
What will happen if the acetaminophen is taken with water?
Claim #2:
The water will neutralize the acidic stomach, causing the acetaminophen to dissolve more
quickly.
Procedure/Materials #2:
1. Weigh the 500 mg Equate brand acetaminophen caplet and tablet separately on a scale
(record data)
2. Fill 2 graduated cylinders with 50 ml of lemon juice (pH of 2)
3. Add 150 ml of water and stir for 20 seconds
4. Drop the 2 medication forms in separate graduated cylinders and begin timer
5. Time for 10 minutes
6. Drain out the remaining medication by tilting the beaker
7. Leave acetaminophen on coffee filters to dry for 15 minutes
8. Retrieve final weight of acetaminophen (record data)
Evidence #2:
Drug
Initial
Form
Weight
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
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Caplet
0.6g
0.5g
0.4g
0.6g
Tablet
0.6g
0.5g
0.4g
0.6g
Adding water made more of a difference than the acidic lemon juice alone. What would occur if
meds are taken with a 16.9 oz (500 ml) bottle of water?
1. Weigh the 500 mg Equate brand acetaminophen caplet and tablet separately on a scale
(record data)
2. Fill 2 graduated cylinders with 50 ml of lemon juice (pH of 2)
3. Add 500 ml of water and stir for 20 seconds
4. Drop the 2 medication forms in separate graduated cylinders and begin timer
5. Time for 10 minutes
6. Drain out the remaining medication by tilting the beaker
7. Leave acetaminophen on coffee filters to dry for 15 minutes
8. Retrieve final weight of acetaminophen (record data)
Drug
Initial
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Form
Weight
Caplet
0.6g
0.5g
0.5g
0.5g
Tablet
0.6g
0.2g
dissolved 0.5g
Research #2:
In the procedure we noticed that adding water to the stomach helps speed up the chemical
process of absorption. If someone were to drink a bottle of water with the acetaminophen they
would get better and quicker results. This is because the stomach acid is neutralized by the
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presence of water. We were already aware that acetaminophen dissolves more quickly in water,
but even after adding water we still got a pH of 2 with litmus paper. The pH level is not
affected, but the ionic forces are split when water is introduced to an acid. The stomach is made
up of Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and “mixing HCl with water makes a hydrogen ion and a chlorine
ion” (Acids and Bases). By breaking up the ions, the process of absorption in the stomach
speeds up. I am aware from anatomy and physiology of animals in studying veterinary medicine
that vitamins and minerals are absorbed in the first portion of the intestines and we know that
absorbtion of drugs takes place in the stomach before it reaches the bloodstream as “some water,
certain ions, and such drugs as aspirin and ethanol are absorbed from the stomach into the blood,
accounting for the quick relief of a headache after swallowing aspirin and the rapid appearance
of ethanol in the blood after drinking alcohol” (The Human GI Tract).
Question #3:
What will happen if the acetaminophen is taken with a salty or sugary mixture/diet?
Claim #3:
The medication will not work as fast and will dissolve more slowly.
Procedure/Materials #3:
1. Weigh the 500 mg Equate brand acetaminophen caplet and tablet separately on a scale
(record data)
2. Fill 2 graduated cylinders with 50 ml of lemon juice (pH of 2)
3. Add 1 tablespoon of granulated store bought SUGAR and stir for 20 seconds
4. Drop the 2 medication forms in separate graduated cylinders and begin timer
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5. Time for 10 minutes
6. Drain out the remaining medication by tilting the beaker
7. Leave acetaminophen on coffee filters to dry for 15 minutes
8. Retrieve final weight of acetaminophen (record data)
1. Weigh the 500 mg Equate brand acetaminophen caplet and tablet separately on a scale
(record data)
2. Fill 2 graduated cylinders with 50 ml of lemon juice (pH of 2)
3. Add 1 tablespoon of Morton brand table SALT and stir for 20 seconds
4. Drop the 2 medication forms in separate graduated cylinders and begin timer
5. Time for 10 minutes
6. Drain out the remaining medication by tilting the beaker
7. Leave acetaminophen on coffee filters to dry for 15 minutes
8. Retrieve final weight of acetaminophen (record data)
Evidence #3:
With granulated store bought sugar:
Drug
Initial
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Form
Weight
Caplet
0.6g
0.6g
0.6g
0.6g
Tablet
0.6g
0.6g
0.5g
0.5g
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With Morton brand table salt:
Drug
Initial
Trial 1
Trial 2
Form
Weight
Caplet
0.6g
Dissolved Dissolved Dissolved
Tablet
0.6g
0.6g
0.6g
Trial 3
0.6g
Research #3:
After viewing what happened with an addition of water to the stomach, we were able to test what
would happen if someone had a sugary or salty mixture instead. These would also be the results
if someone had a sugary or salty diet because a measurable amount (tablespoon) was added. The
tablet and the coating of it were affected more by the sugar being added to the stomach, whereas
the added sugar barely had an effect on the caplet. When salt was added instead, the tablets outer
coating was barely penetrated and the numbers and letters on the pill were still visible. The
caplet had completely dissolved when salt was mixed with the acid in less than ten minutes. If
someone had a salty diet then the caplet would work quickly for them. Carnauba wax is the
sugary coating on the tablet that is not on the caplet and it is the“same wax used to coat many
candies” (Helmenstine). This coating could not be penetrated after ten minutes with too much
salt present. The caplet contains magnesium stearate. This is the only ingredient in the caplet
that is not in the tablet and may have made the salt have a great effect. The sugar was able to
pull from the sugary coated tablet, which is why the tablet dissolved more in sugar. Outside of
the coating being dissolved, the acetaminophen tablet had not dissolved very much. It is better
for someone not to have very much sugar or drink juice with the medication if they want quicker
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results. It has also been advised not to drink juice with it because the ingredients in it affect the
drugs potency and many fruit juices “appear to make some drugs less effective, and may even
wipe out their potential benefits” (Dreisbach). Just as sugar was affected by sugar, salt was
affected by salt. The caplet had completely dissolved and contains magnesium stearate, and
“magnesium stearate is a salt containing stearate (the anion of stearic acid) and magnesium”
(Dicentra).
References
Acids and Bases. Acids. Retrieved from http://www.acidsandbases.org. Web. Used 17 Nov
2012.
Dicentra: Regulatory and Scientific Solutions. 18 June 2012. Magnesium Stearate-Update.
Retrieve from http://dicentra.com/regulatory-affairs-consultants/magnesium-stearateupdate.
Dreisbach, S. Parenting. New Reasons to Avoid Juice with Medicine. Retrieved from
http://www.parenting.com/article/new-reasons-to-avoid-juice-with-medicine. Web. Used
17 Nov 2012.
Helmenstine, A. M. About.com Chemistry. What is Carnauba Wax? Retrieved from
http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodchemistryfaqs/f/carnauba-wax. Web. Used 25 Nov
2012.
The Human Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract. 20 October 2012. Absorption in the Stomach.
Retrieved from http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages.
FINAL INQUIRY PROJECT
Loomis Enzymes Family of Companies. Digestion in the Stomach. Retrieved from
http://www.loomisenzymes.com/articles/digestion-in-the-stomach. Web. Used 25 Nov
2012.
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