Alka Seltzer Strength

Name: Anjana Shyam

Date: 04/16/2024

Be sure to report all data and calculated results with the correct number of significant
figures. Record all digits when making measurements. Follow the rules for significant
figures, and remember that the rules for addition and subtraction differ from the rules
from multiplication and division.

Part 1: Determining the Nature of the Reaction

1. Based on the Background information, what product of the reaction causes the bubbling to
occur when Alka-Seltzer is added to the vinegar?

Carbon dioxide causes bubbling to occur when alka seltzer is added to vinegar. Alka seltzer
reacting to an acid causes fizzing to occur, forming carbon dioxide gas.

2. Based on the Background information, what component of Alka-Seltzer reacts with the acid
in the vinegar? Write its name and chemical formula.
Sodium bicarbonate(NaHCO3)

3. Use the Background information and Chapter 4 in your textbook as a reference to write a
balanced equation (including physical states) for the reaction you observed when you added
sodium bicarbonate to the acid in vinegar, acetic acid, HC2H3O2(aq).

NaHCO3(s) + HC2H3O2(aq) -> H2O(l) + CO2(g) + NaC2H3O2(aq)

4. Explain why the other components of Alka-Seltzer (described in the Background) should not
react with acetic acid in vinegar to produce a gas.

The other components of the Alka-Seltzer do not react because the other components are
acids. The acid base neutralization reaction can only occur between an acid and a base.
C2H3O2 can not undergo neutralization due to the acidity in vinegar.

5. Fill in the table below with your recorded data and calculated results for Part 1.

BEAKER Column (1) Column (2) Column (3) Column (4)

Initial Mass Final Mass Mass CO2 Moles CO2
# Mass of Mass of (g) evolved (g) evolved
beaker & Alka-Seltzer (g) (mols)
solution (g) (g)
 1 67.089 g 2.000 g 69.089g 68.500 g 0.589 g 0.013 mol

Column 1: This initial mass (before reaction) is the measured mass of the beaker
containing the vinegar solution PLUS the mass of the Alka-Seltzer tablet (2.000 g).

Column 2: This final mass is the measured mass of the beaker with its solution after
the reaction between the Alka-Seltzer with the vinegar.

Column 3: Calculate the mass of CO2 evolved in each beaker by subtracting the final
mass from the initial mass. Show calculation for Beaker #1 here.

69.089 g - 68.500g = 0.589 g

Column 4: Convert the mass of CO2 evolved (column 3) to moles of CO2 evolved. When
determining molar mass of CO2, be sure to use at least four significant figures in your
molar mass values obtained from the periodic table. For Beaker #1, write the value for
mass of CO2 evolved and show your calculation here.

0.589 g of CO2 evolved

0.589 g of CO2 * (1 mol of CO2/44.01 g of CO2) = 0.013 mol of CO2

6. Which of the following statements is true? Circle or highlight your choice.

A. The moles of the CO2 gas evolved should be equal to the moles of the NaHCO3 (in the
Alka-Seltzer tablet) that reacted.

B. The mass of the CO2 gas evolved should be equal to the mass of the Alka-Seltzer tablet.
C. The moles of the CO2 gas evolved should be less than the moles of the NaHCO3 (in the
Alka-Seltzer tablet) that reacted.

D. The mass of the CO2 gas evolved should be equal to the mass of the NaHCO3 in the
Alka-Seltzer tablet.

Part 2: Determining the Percent-By-Mass

NaHCO3 in Alka-Seltzer
Be sure to report all data and calculated results with the correct number of significant
figures. Record all digits when making measurements. Follow the rules for significant
figures, and remember that the rules for addition and subtraction differ from the rules
from multiplication and division.

7. Fill in the table below with your recorded data and calculated results. More descriptive
instructions for each column are below the chart. For some of the columns you’ll need to show
a sample calculation.

BEAKE
Column (1) Column (2) Column (3) Column (4) Column (5) Column (6)
R#
Initial Mass Final Mass mass CO2 moles CO2 moles of mass of
(g) (g) evolved (g) evolved (mols) NaHCO3 NaHCO3
reacted (g)
reacted (mols)

1 65.000 g 64.239 g 0.761 g 0.017 0.017 1.43

2 65.0005 g 64.171 g 0.834 g 0.019 0.019 1.60

3 65.010 g 64.127 g 0.883 g 0.020 0.020 1.68

4 65.015 g 64.132 g 0.883 g 0.020 0.020 1.68

 5 65.020 g 64.137 g 0.883 g 0.020 0.020 1.68

6 65.026 g 64.142 g 0.884 g 0.020 0.020 1.68

Column 1: This initial mass (before reaction) is the measured mass of the beaker
containing the water and vinegar PLUS the mass of the Alka-Seltzer tablet (3.000 g).

Column 2: This final mass is the measured mass of each beaker with its solution after
the reaction between the Alka-Seltzer with the vinegar and water.

Column 3: Calculate the mass of CO2 evolved in each beaker by subtracting the final
mass from the initial mass. Show calculation for Beaker #6 here.

65.026 g - 64.142 g = 0.884 g

Column 4: Calculate the number of moles of CO2 evolved in each beaker. (Remember
to use molar mass with at least four significant figures in your calculation.) Write the
value and show calculation for Beaker #6 here.

0.884 g of CO2 * (1 mol of CO2/44.01 g) = 0.020 mol of CO2

Column 5: Calculate the number of moles of NaHCO3 that reacted in each beaker. Write
the value and show calculation (or explain your answer) for Beaker #6 here.

Mol of CO2 = mol of NaHCO3

There is a 1:1 mol reaction ratio between NaHCO3 reactant and the CO2 product, so the
number of moles of NaHCO3 should be equivalent to the number of moles of CO2 produced.

0.020 mol of CO2 = 0.020 mol of NaHCO3

Column 6: Calculate the mass of NaHCO3 that was used up in the reaction for each
 beaker. (Remember to use molar mass with at least four significant figures in your
calculation.) Write the value and show calculation for Beaker #6 here.

0.020 mol of NaHCO3 * (84.01 g of NaHCO3/1 mol of NaHCO3) = 1.68 g of NaHCO3

8. Create a graph with six data points by plotting the mass of reacted NaHCO3 in each beaker
(y-axis) against the volume of vinegar (x-axis). Include distinct data points on the graph.
9. Use the graph of your results to answer the following questions:

(a) Which trials (beaker numbers) can you use to calculate the amount of NaHCO3 that
reacted?

The molar ratio for CO2: NaHCO3 is equivalent for

every trial, signifying that every trial can be used to
calculate the amount of NaHCO3 that reacted.

(b) In which trials (beaker numbers) was NaHCO3 the limiting reactant?

NaHCO3 was the limiting reactant in Trials 3-6.

(c) Which trials (beaker numbers) can you use to calculate the amount of NaHCO3
present in the Alka-Seltzer samples?

Trials 3-6 can be used to calculate the amount of

NaHCO3 in the Alka- Seltzer samples because
NaHCO3 was the limiting reactant in trials 3-6.

(d) What is the mass of NaHCO3 in each of the Alka-Seltzer “tablets” used in this lab?
Explain how you arrived at your result.

The mass of NaHCO3 should be 1.68 grams in each of the Alka-Seltzer “tablets”, because
NaHCO3 is the limiting reactant in Trials 3-6 and would have reacted completely in the reaction.

(e) What is the percent-by-mass composition of NaHCO3 in the Alka-Seltzer tablet?

Write the value and show your calculation here.
% mass of NaHCO3 = mass of NaHCO3 reacted/ total mass of Alka Seltzer * 100 = 1.68/3.00 *
100 = 56%

Continued…

10. As noted in the background to the lab, each Alka-Seltzer tablet contains acids such as
aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid) and citric acid. These are the only acids that react with the
NaHCO3 in the tablet in Trial 1 of Part 2 when no vinegar was added.

(a) How many moles of NaHCO3 reacted in Trial 1?

0.017 moles of NaHCO3

(b) How many moles of H+ (from aspirin and citric acid) reacted with NaHCO3 in Trial 1.
The net ionic equation is: NaHCO3(s) + H+(aq) ® Na+(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

0.017 mol NaHC * (1 mol of H+/ 1 mol of NaHCO3) = 0.017 mol of H+

(c) Assume that the number of moles of NaHCO3 that reacted in Trial 1 were not
available to react with the vinegar added in later trials. In Table 7 (Column 5), you
determined moles of NaHCO3 that reacted in each trial, which is the moles of NaHCO3
that reacted in each tablet. Specifically for Trial 6, determine the number of moles of
NaHCO3 in the tablet that are available in each tablet to neutralize stomach acid (HCl)
when taken as an antacid. Write the value with units and show your calculation
here.

0.020 mol - 0.017 mol = 0.003 mol of NaHCO3

 (d) Convert moles of available NaHCO3 per tablet you calculated in10(c) to units of
grams/tablet. Write the value with units and show your calculation here.

0.003 mol of NaHCO3 * (84.01 g/ 1 mol of NaHCO3) = 0.252 g of NaHCO3

11. Use your answer to 10(d) to calculate the percent-by-mass composition of NaHCO3
available to neutralize stomach acid in each tablet.

% mass of NaHCO3 = mass of NaHCO3/mass of NaHCO3 available = 0.252 g/3.000 g = 0.084

0.084*100 = 8.4%