Keep It Bottled Up - Rates of Pressure Increase

Introduction

When two or more chemicals react, other substances such as gases may be produced. The rate at which the reaction takes place can be affected by a number of different factors including temperature. In this activity, you will see how temperature affects the rate at which an effervescent antacid tablet reacts with water and releases a gas. The rate at which the reaction occurs is measured by the rate of gas production.

You will measure this rate by recording the pressure variation in a closed container as the reaction proceeds using a pressure sensor. Then you can use a mathematical model relating pressure and time to describe how water temperature affects chemical reaction rates.

Objectives

• Record pressure versus time data as a chemical reaction proceeds.
• Model pressure data using a linear function.
• Use the concept of slope to describe the effect of temperature on chemical reaction rates.