Further+Observations

As mentioned before I decided to make a lava lamp for my chemistry ISU. After researching, I learned that there were several ways to achieve this goal. After a few set backs, I investigated making my own “home made” lava lamp with alka-seltzers.

= **About Alka-Seltzers:** =

Alka-seltzer is an effervescent antiacid and pain reliever first marketed by the Dr. Miles Medicine Company. Today, they are commonly used in chemistry as well due their rapid dilution tablets that form a carbonated solution in water. Alka- seltzers are a combination of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and anhydrous citric acid. It is commonly used for the relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, and “sour stomach”. Although the asprin is important to the effect of the medication it does not contribute to the overall effervescence of the tablet. That is produced by the baking soda and citric acid reacting to form sodium citrate and carbon dioxide gas. This reaction can be shown as:

C6H8O7(aq) + 3NaHCO3(aq) à 3H2O(l) + 3CO2(g) + Na3C6H5O7(aq)

Citric acid + baking soda à water + carbon dioxide + sodium citrate


 * When solid dry powders of NaHCO3 and acetyl-salicylic acid are pressed together to make an alka-seltzer tablet, being solids, the molecules are not mobile enough to react. Adding the water dissolves and also allows the tablets to react.


 * One of the main ingredients in alka-seltzer’s is baking powder. Baking powder is a combination of some acid such as citric or tartaric and sodium bicarbonate. When the tablet dissolves the components of baking powder the acid and the base react with each other to produce carbon dioxide.

= **How the Reaction Occurred:** =

As mentioned before, it is the baking soda and citric acid reacting to form the carbon dioxide. The alka-seltzer tablets react with the water then forming tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. These blobs then float up and down in the beaker, mixing with the vegetable oil forming the appearance of a lava lamp. Now in an original lava lamp, which would mean using wax and clear liquid the wax rises and falls due to its density changes. The change in density is caused by the change in temperature due to the heating of the lamp with an incandescent light bulb underneath a light bulb.

= **Some Problems I Faced:** =

During my experiment I really only faced one major set back although I ended up learning more than I thought I could. I had originally planned on making a lava lamp using wax, as you see in store bought lava lamps. I investigated the several steps in performing such an experiment. Through the investigation I learned that perchorlate was a necessary ingredient, of which I did not have or could find. This is when I continued my research into making a “home made” lava lamp. Although I have taken alka-seltzers several times for “sour stomach” I had never expected to learn as much as I did.

= **Conclusions Drawn:** =


 * The effervescence of the reaction is caused by the baking soda and citric acid reacting with the H2O to form carbon dioxide gas (CO2).


 * A lava lamp can actually be made AT HOME with every day house hold materials J ..and it only takes about 5 minutes!