MadSci Network: Chemistry |
This sounds like a lot of fun! The water of course starts the Alka Seltzer tablet fizzing. It's making carbon dioxide gas, because a weak acid in the tablets reacts with the sodium bicarbonate. When the pressure of gas has built up enough it shoots the lid off and fires the cannister into the air. If you use warmer water it reacts even quicker and the pressure builds up quicker and so the thrust is greater. Hope that explain sit for you. Kevin
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