Download Making your own Rocket!

You are the Scientist!
Can you make a rocket?
Wear your Safety Glasses!
Chemistry Experiment Activity 7:
Making your own Rocket!
In this experiment we will try to launch a rocket using the energy produced by
dissolving a fizzy tablet in water. Make sure you are wearing your safety glasses for
this experiment!
Materials required: Empty film canister (container used for storing rolls of film)
and lid.
Chemicals required: Effervescent tablet (e.g. Alka Seltzer), water.
Procedure
1. Place some water in the bottom of the container to a depth of about 0.5 cm.
2. Add the fizzy tablet to the water.
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3. Quickly put the lid on the film canister. Make sure that the lid is tightly fitting.
4. Place the film canister on a table so that the lid of the canister is resting on the
table.
5. Stand well back. What do you observe?
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6. How can you explain your observation?
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7. Alka Seltzer contains a mixture of an acid (citric acid) and a base (baking soda or
sodium bicarbonate). When these two chemicals are added to water they react
together to form a gas that is commonly used in fire extinguishers and is also found in
fizzy drinks. What is the name of this gas?
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8. Why do you think the “rocket” stays on the desk for a while before it takes off?
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Note: The principle of the rocket can also be demonstrated using a rocket balloon.
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