Alka-Seltzer is an effervescent (bubbling) antacid and pain reliever for the relief of heartburn and indigestion. Alka-Seltzer relieves indigestion by neutralizing excess hydrochloric acid (HCl) in our stomach. One of the active ingredients in Alka-Seltzer is sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3), which reacts with HCl and changes it into carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and water (H2O). The fizzing that is seen when an Alka-Seltzer tablet is dropped in acid is the same sort of fizzing reaction that can be seen when baking soda is mixed with vinegar. The chemical equation is shown below.

True or False: Sodium chloride, carbon dioxide, and water are all reactants.

11 answers

False. In the reaction between sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium chloride (NaCl), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O) are products, not reactants. The reactants in this reaction are sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Question: How did you observe NaCl being formed as a product/after the reaction?

a
It formed into solid salt structures.
b
There was foaming as NaCl dissolved.
c
There were bubbles of gas in the reaction.
d
All of the above were signs of NaCl being formed.

The correct answer is b: There was foaming as NaCl dissolved.

When sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) reacts with hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride (table salt) is formed, which typically remains in solution (dissolved in water). The foaming indicates the presence of a salt being created in solution, along with carbon dioxide gas.

Option a is not typically observed in this reaction, as NaCl does not form solid structures in the context of the effervescence caused by this reaction.

Option c refers to the evolution of carbon dioxide gas, which is not a direct indication of NaCl being formed, though it does happen as part of the reaction.

Thus, the best choice reflecting the observation of NaCl being formed is b.

how did you observe carbon dioxide being formed as a product?

a
A solid precipitate was formed.
b
Gas bubbles formed and bubbled through the flask.
c
A color change occurred.
d
All of the above are signs that carbon dioxide formed

The correct answer is b: Gas bubbles formed and bubbled through the flask.

In the reaction between sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), carbon dioxide (CO2) is released as a gas. This is typically observed as gas bubbles forming and rising through the liquid.

Option a refers to a solid precipitate, which does not indicate the formation of carbon dioxide in this specific reaction.

Option c indicates a color change, which is not a direct sign of carbon dioxide being produced in this particular reaction.

Therefore, the best choice that describes how carbon dioxide is observed as a product of this reaction is b.

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.

The correct answer is b: The rate of the reaction would slow down.

Using a whole Alka-Seltzer tablet, which has a smaller surface area compared to powdered sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), would result in a slower reaction rate. This is because the rate of many chemical reactions is affected by the surface area of the reactants; a smaller surface area means fewer particles are available for the reaction to occur at any one time compared to a powdered form, which provides more surface area for the reactants to interact.

In summary, the whole tablet would dissolve and react more slowly than the powdered form due to its reduced surface area.

the surface area, increases the reaction rate.

Word Bank:
Increasing Decreasing
Blank 1:

The correct word to fill in the blank is Increasing.

So the complete statement would read:

The surface area increases the reaction rate.

This means that increasing the surface area of a reactant generally enhances the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs.

What would happen with the lab IF we warmed up our hydrochloric acid (HCl) before doing the experiment?

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

The correct answer is a: The rate of the reaction would speed up.

Warming up hydrochloric acid (HCl) would increase the temperature of the reactants, leading to an increase in the kinetic energy of the molecules involved in the reaction. This results in more frequent and energetic collisions between the reactant molecules, which speeds up the rate of the reaction. Therefore, pre-warming the HCl would generally enhance the reaction rate.