Fizzing is observed when an effervescent antacid tablet is dropped into of distilled…

CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · AP · Chemistry · Chemical Reactions · Chemical Reactions

Problem

Fizzing is observed when an effervescent antacid tablet is dropped into

50\,\text{mL}

of distilled water at room temperature. You are allotted only

10\,\text{min}

of laboratory time and the following items: a

100\,\text{mL}

graduated cylinder (

\pm0.5\,\text{mL}

), a gas-collection syringe (

100\,\text{mL}

capacity,

\pm1\,\text{mL}

), a balance (

\pm0.01\,\text{g}

), a thermometer (

\pm1\,^\circ\text{C}

), a stopwatch, and standard personal protective equipment. No acids or bases other than the tablet and water are available. Design an experiment that will allow you to determine whether the fizzing represents a physical change (release of pre-existing gas) or a chemical change (generation of new substances). (a) State a clear, testable hypothesis regarding the nature of the change that occurs when the tablet fizzes in water. (b) Provide a detailed, numbered procedure—using only the supplied equipment—that will generate quantitative data within the

10\,\text{min}

limit. Your procedure must specify which measurements will be taken, at what times, and how the equipment will be arranged to obtain those measurements. (c) Describe how you would analyze the collected data to decide whether the change is physical or chemical. In your explanation, include the expected numerical or graphical trends for each possible outcome. (d) Identify two safety precautions specific to your procedure and explain the rationale for each.

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