======Alka-Seltzer Balloon Inflation Race======


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**Alternative titles:** Balloon Race: Effect of Temperature on Reaction Rate
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Prepare three flasks, each half-filled with water at different temperatures: hot, room temperature, and cold.  
  - Break Alka-Seltzer tablets into equal-sized pieces.  
  - Practice stretching a balloon over the mouth of a flask to ensure a snug fit.  
  - Add one broken tablet to each flask, then quickly cover the flask with a balloon.  
  - Observe and record how fast the balloons inflate in each condition.  
  - Compare the balloon sizes once the reactions have stopped.  
  - Record balloon measurements (diameter, circumference, or height) in a results table.


====Links==== 
Blowing Up Balloons with Alka Seltzer Tablets: KAH Science with John Henri - Kids After Hours: 
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📄 Balloon Race (The Effect of Temperature on the Rate of Reaction) - Science Project: [[https://www.scienceprojects.org/balloon-race-the-effect-of-temperature-on-the-rate-of-reaction/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Repeat the experiment with vinegar and baking soda instead of Alka-Seltzer.  
  * Try using different concentrations of vinegar or different amounts of baking soda.  
  * Test the reaction in larger bottles to see if container size influences balloon inflation.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Perform experiment in an easy-to-clean area, as balloons may burst.  
  * Handle hot water with care to avoid burns.  
  * Wash hands after handling reactants.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the balloon inflate faster in hot water? (Because higher temperatures give particles more energy, leading to more frequent and energetic collisions.)  
  * Does temperature change the final amount of carbon dioxide produced? (No, only the rate changes; the total CO2 formed is the same if the same amounts of reactants are used.)  
  * How does this experiment demonstrate the concept of activation energy? (At higher temperatures, more particles exceed the activation energy, so the reaction speeds up.)  
  * What real-world processes depend on reaction rates and temperature? (Cooking, digestion, industrial chemical production, and metabolism.)