Banks+A13


 * A STUDY OF HOW ALKA-SELTZER LOWERS pH. **

**ABSTRACT**
The purpose of this study was to find out how to find out how and why Alka-Seltzer works. Alka-Seltzer is a type of antacid made of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and citric acid. The experiment was conducted by dropping an Alka-Seltzer tablet into either lemon juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, or vinegar. It was found out that Alka-Seltzer Cold and Flu takes the least amount of time to dissolve and Alka-Seltzer Extra Strength takes the longest. This is because Alka-Seltzer Cold and Flu is thinner than Alka-Seltzer Extra Strength so therefore it takes less time to dissolve.

EXPERIMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AND FUTURE EXPERIMENTS
What I would have done differently in my experiments is in my first experiment I think that I would have used 500 ml of water instead of 100 ml. I would do this because the Alka-Seltzer tablet had barely enough room to dissolve in the 100 ml or liquid. IN my third experiment I think that I would have used water rather than vinegar. I would do this because it makes a lot more sense to use water in that experiment as I was testing to see if different types of Alka-Seltzer took different times to dissolve. It makes more sense because people are likely dissolving their Alka-Seltzer when they have indigestion in water not apple cider vinegar. There are many more experiments that I wish that I could have done in my ISP. I wish that I could have tested if Alka-Seltzer can make basic liquids even more basic. I also wish that I could have tested how Alka-Seltzer affects the pH. of very acidic liquids like hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Stomach acid is the main acid in stomach acid so it would be especially interesting to test that.

To read my entire scientific paper, please click on the link below.