LAB:
TEMPERATURE AND REACTION RATES
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of temperature on the reaction of antacid tablets
with water.
MATERIALS (each group)
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5 plastic cups/beakers/test tubes
masking tape
water
ice
thermometer
5 effervescent antacid tablets
stopwatch/ clock
graph paper
PROCEDURE
1) Label each of the 5 cups using a piece of masking tape, calling them
A, B, C, D, or E
2) Fill each cup ¾ full of water as follows: (A) cold tap water plus some
ice, (B) cold tap water only, (C) half-and-half of cold and hot water,
and (D) hot tap water only (fill each cup only with water temperature
mixture just prior to adding individual antacid tablet).
3) Measure starting temperature of water just prior to adding antacid
tablet; record temperature.
4) Drop antacid tablet into cup A and immediately begin to time how it
takes for the reaction/ “bubble production to end; record in Data table.
5) Repeat steps (3) and (4) with the cups B, C and D; record data.
6) Repeat steps (3) and (4) with cup E, only this time carefully “crush”
(be careful not lose any antacid material)the antacid tablet into powder
before adding to cup E.
DATA
Cup Letter
A
B
C
D
E
Temp(ºC)
Time (s)
CONCLUSIONS
1) Draw a bar graph of temperature versus reaction time. Attach to back
of lab handout (be sure to add the title of the graph and label both
graph axes appropriately); suggestion: Set “temperature in ºC” on Y
– axis with “Time in seconds” on X – axis; label each bar on graph
to represent cups A, B, C, etc.
2) Do the antacid tablets react faster at higher temperatures. Explain why
or why not.
3) What was the result of “crushing” the antacid tablet before adding it to
cup E? Explain your results.