+1 862 207 3288 The Rocket
Objective
In this lab we will explore the effect of increasing Molar amounts of gas on pressure, using the ideal gas law, PV=nRT.
Introduction
We use the gas laws in our every day lives all of the time and never really know it. In the winter the pressure in our tires is low, due to the decrease in temperature. Hot air balloons rise because the increase in temperature causes their volume to increase. In our cars, the decrease in volume of the car cylinders causes in increase in pressure. In this lab we are going to see how increasing the number of moles of gas, n, will increase the pressure in a closed container. If we look at PV=nRT whereby P is pressure, V is volume, n is number of Moles, R is a constant, and T is the temperature in Kelvin, we can see that increasing number of Moles of a gas, while keeping volume the same, will cause an increase in pressure.
Here is the chemical reaction. Acetic acid (vinegar) reacts with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to create CO2 gas.
CH3COOH + NaHCO3?CH3COONa+ H2O + CO2
Materials
Volumetric cylinder (plastic Blue cap tube)
Cotton balls
Sodium Bicarbonate
Acetic Acid (vinegar)
Rubber stopper
This lab should be done outside and no children should be involved.
(Wear protective eyewear and do not stand over the Rocket before launch).
Procedure
1. Take your volumetric cylinder and add 10 mL of vinegar to the cylinder.
2. Place 2 or three cotton balls on top of the vinegar without getting the cotton balls in the vinegar.
3. Add 10 grams of baking sodato the top of the cotton balls.
4. Place a rubber stopper to the top of the graduated cylinder and put on tightly.
5. Turn the cylinder over, put on the ground and move away.The vinegar will drip down to the baking soda to react. Soon, the rocket should launch.
6. Make an estimate of how high the rocket launched.
7. Now, vary the amount of vinegar and baking soda until you feel you have found an optimum combination for launch height.
Questions
What was the optimum combination of vinegar and baking soda to obtain the maximum launch?
What would happen if this was done on a very hot day?
What would happen if this was done on a very cold day?
What happens to the volume of the gas when the rocket launches?
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