The rocket project

Hypothesis

If we use baking soda (limiting reagent) at smaller amount compared to the

amount of vinegar, the rocket will fly the farthest.

Objective

The purpose of this experiment is to test that the acid-base chemical reaction, in
which vinegar represents acid and baking soda represents base, can be used as a
fuel to drive the water bottle rocket to reach the expected point, 20m. In addition,
this experiment is also to compare the amount chemical reactant put in the rocket
to distance that the rocket can fly.

Abstract

For making rocket project, the materials that used for making the rocket are 1.5

liter bottle, tape, and flute board. The concept for making rocket fly in chemistry is

the reaction between baking soda and vinegar. The formula of the reaction is

NaHCO3+CH3COOHCO2+H2O+CH3COONa which it can produce

CO2 gasses for making the rocket fly. The bottle can hold enough CO2 gases and

make pressure that make rocket fly for 20 meters. The result is the rocket can fly

for 19 meters and can hit 1 point target. There are some mistakes in the experiment

which are winds and amount of chemical that use in the project.
Materials

For rocket construction

1.5 litre-plastic water bottle Glue Tape

Acrylic colors Scissors Card Boards

Hard papers Polymer clays Cork

For launcher Construction

PVC pipes Acrylic color spray.

Method

Nose cone

Cut the cardboard into big circle. Roll and tape the cardboard into a cone.

Then tape the cone with the bottom part of the plastic water bottle.

Fins

Cut the cardboard into 4 right trapezoids. Tape the 4 trapezoid-shaped

cardboards on each side of the top part of the water bottle with the same distance

between each trapezoid-shaped cardboard.

Launcher Construction
 Cut the PVC pipes into pieces and use the PVC-pipe-holder to hold each

pieces together into the expected shape. Then, spray the launcher with acrylic

painting spray and let it dry.

Fuel Preparation

Place the baking soda in the center of a tissue. Then roll the tissue tightly

and tape the roll with tape. Pour the vinegar into the rocket.

Launching

Place the launcher on the floor. Put the roll of baking soda into the rocket

and screw the rocket with the cork immediately. Place the rocket on the launcher.

After the rocket launched, measure the distance.

Set-up
Introduction

This lab report is for the rocket project using the knowledge from physics and

chemistry class. In this experiment we are simulating the chemical between

NaHCO3 (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate) and CH3COOH (Vinegar or acetic acid).

NaHCO3 which is the basic substance and CH3COOH which is acid substance. In

chemistry, neutralization, is a chemical reaction in which acid and base react

quantitatively with each other.

Discussion
 The chemical formula in the between baking soda and vinegar is

NaHCO3+CH3COOHCO2+H2O+CH3COONa. The rocket balloon

has mixed between baking soda and vinegar in ratio of 1:3. The

rocket used 65 grams of baking soda and 500 ml of vinegar.

Calculated the mole of baking soda is 0.773 mol and mole of

vinegar is 8.3 mol. After the reaction, baking soda and vinegar

produces 0.733 mol of carbon dioxide. Make the rocket fly for 19

meters and hit the target. The main source of engine is carbon

dioxide (gas).

Equation

NaHCO3+CH3COOHCO2+H2O+CH3COONa

Vinegar

500 grams of 1 mol of vinegar 1 mol of CO2 44 grams

vinegar
60.0 grams 1 mol of vinegar 1 mol of CO2

1 mol of vinegar = 60.0 grams 500 grams = 8.3 mol

8.3 mol of vinegar 8.3 mol of CO2

1 mol of CO2 = 44 grams 8.3 mol of CO2 = 44 x 8.3 = 365.2 g

Baking Soda

65 grams of 1 mol of NaHCO3 1 mol of CO2 44 grams

NaHCO3
84 grams 1 mol of 1 mol of CO2

NaHCO3
1 mol of baking soda = 84.0 grams 65 grams = 0.773 mol

0.733 mol of CO2 0.733 mol of CO2

1 mol of CO2 = 44 grams 0.733 mol of CO2 = 44 x 0.733 = 34.04 g

(Limiting reagent)

As you see in the calculation, baking soda is limiting reagent and vinegar is excess

reagent.
Result

When we mix baking soda with vinegar the reaction is it produce a lot of

foam and bubbles. In this reaction acid and base are release into dioxide gas so we

will see it in term of foam and bubbles. Vinegar is acid and baking soda is base.

What happens when you mix vinegar with baking soda? Theres a lot of bubbling

and foaming! The bubbles and foam you see are filled with carbon dioxide gas

(CO2) thats being released by an acid/base reaction. Vinegar is acetic acid

dissolved in water and baking soda is a base called sodium bicarbonate. Initially,

the

reaction makes carbonic acid which is unstable. It quickly breaks down into CO2

and water. The gas then rapidly leaves the water creating foam and bubbles along

the way. We use sodium hydrogen carbonate more than vinegar because it is

limiting reagent. Vinegar is an accessing reagent

 Table

Mass of rocket Distance cover Angle Baking soda vinegar

149.35 g 19 m 45 degree 55 grams 500 ml

Data Analysis

This best trial make of 55 grams of baking soda and 500 ml of vinegar. We

use our own launcher and launch it with angle of 45 degree. So it make our rocket

goes to the target and hit 19 meters ,directly.

Conclusion

Our project was to test if vinegar played a larger part in launching the rocket

than the baking soda. When the baking soda and vinegar mixed we heard lots of

fizzing and there was foam. The pressure caused by this mixture created carbon

dioxide, which caused the rocket to launch. Our hypothesis was correct. As the
amount of vinegar decreased the height of the launch decreased as well. We

learned that the mixing of the baking soda and vinegar created CO2. For future

projects we could try putting some more weight and add more wings.