Alka-Seltzer Rockets Prelab Questions Define the term

Name: ______________________

Alka-Seltzer Rockets Prelab Questions Define the term chemical reaction. Objective You will be constructing a rocket that will be propelled into the air by a chemical reaction. Safety  Always wear safety goggles when handling chemicals in the lab.  Wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the lab.  Clean-up your materials according to your teacher’s instructions  When the Alka-Seltzer tablet has been added to the film canister, move away from the rocket. Procedure 1. Cut paper into a 6” by 6” square. 2. Roll paper around the film canister. Make sure the canister is upside down at the bottom of the roll and that the lid can fit on and off easily.

3. Cut out a circle of paper for the top of the rocket. Cut 1/4 of the circle out (a triangle shape) so that it can fold into a cone, and tape to the top of your rocket.

4. Cut three triangles out of paper and tape to the bottom of the rocket. Decorate any of these pieces as you wish with crayons, markers, etc. American Association of Chemistry Teachers

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5. Turn the rocket upside down, fill it about halfway with some warm water. 6. Now, drop ¼, ½ or a full Alka-Seltzer tablet into the canister. 7. QUICKLY place the lid on the canister, and the rocket down (right side up), with the lid on the table. 8. Move away from the rocket. Observations Write a sentence about what you saw happen. Analysis 1. The reaction inside the canister created carbon dioxide gas. How is it possible to make a gas from a solid tablet and water?

2. Why did the lid of the canister pop off?

3. Did your rocket travel very far? What are some ideas for making your rocket travel further if you did this experiment again?

American Association of Chemistry Teachers

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