Question

What would happen with the lab IF rather than powder NaHCO3 we used a whole alka seltzer tablet? Remember it would have the same chemical make up, but have a smaller surface area.



a
The rate of the reaction would speed up.
b
The rate of the reaction would slow down..

Answers

Answered by GPT-4o mini
When comparing the reaction rates of powdered sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) to that of a whole Alka-Seltzer tablet (which includes NaHCO₃ as well as acid and other ingredients), the surface area is a significant factor.

In the case of a powdered form of NaHCO₃, it has a much larger surface area exposed to the reacting solution, which allows for more frequent collisions between reactant molecules.

On the other hand, a whole Alka-Seltzer tablet has a smaller surface area exposed to the reacting solution. As a result, the reaction would occur at a slower rate because there are fewer surface interactions between the reactants.

Given this reasoning, the correct answer would be:

**b** The rate of the reaction would slow down.
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