Question

Suppose you put a whole antacid tablet in one glass of water and a crushed antacid tablet in another glass containing the same amount of water. Both tablets would start reacting and producing bubbles of gas. Use lesson concepts to predict which tablet would stop producing bubbles first. Explain your prediction. Then, with the permission of an adult, do the activity. Do your results agree with your prediction?

Answer 1

The crushed antacid tablet should stop producing bubbles first due to having a greater surface area, which speeds up the chemical reaction. This is consistent with the principles that govern the rates of chemical reactions where increased surface area leads to faster reaction rates.

Step-by-step explanation:

When comparing the reaction of a whole antacid tablet versus a crushed one in water, we can predict using chemical reaction concepts that the crushed tablet will stop producing bubbles first. This is due to the increased surface area available for the reaction, which allows the antacid to dissolve and react more quickly with the water. The reaction in question, involving calcium carbonate reacting with an acid to produce CO₂ gas, showcases how physical changes to reactants can influence the rate of chemical reactions. This is emphasized by the reaction of calcium carbonate with hydrochloric acid (stomach acid) producing salts, water, and CO₂ gas, where a crushed tablet provides more immediate access for the reaction compared to the whole tablet.

Upon carrying out the experiment, one would typically see that the crushed tablet reacts faster and stops bubbling before the whole tablet, confirming the prediction based on reaction rates and surface area engagement in chemical processes.

Answer 2

the crushed tablets would stop bubbling/fuzzing first because it has a smaller surface area which means that it would dissolve before the uncrushed tablets which has a larger surface area.