Alka-Seltzer Balloon Inflation Race

In this experiment, balloons are placed over flasks containing Alka-Seltzer tablets in water at different temperatures. The rate at which the balloons inflate shows how temperature affects the rate of carbon dioxide gas production in an acid–carbonate reaction.

1. Prepare three flasks, each half-filled with water at different temperatures: hot, room temperature, and cold.
2. Break Alka-Seltzer tablets into equal-sized pieces.
3. Practice stretching a balloon over the mouth of a flask to ensure a snug fit.
4. Add one broken tablet to each flask, then quickly cover the flask with a balloon.
5. Observe and record how fast the balloons inflate in each condition.
6. Compare the balloon sizes once the reactions have stopped.
7. Record balloon measurements (diameter, circumference, or height) in a results table.

Blowing Up Balloons with Alka Seltzer Tablets: KAH Science with John Henri - Kids After Hours:

📄 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/

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.)