Education Technology


Keep It Bottled Up: Linear Rates of Pressure Increase

Activity Overview

In this activity, students examine how temperature affects the rate of gas production during a chemical reaction. They measure this rate by recording the pressure variation using a pressure sensor and model the pressure data using a linear function.

Before the Activity

  • Connect the pressure sensor to Channel 1 on the CBL 2™ or Vernier LabPro®
  • Connect the CBL 2 or LabPro to the calculator using the Unit-to-Unit cable
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 39 - 46 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Attach one end of the tubing to the pressure sensor and the other end to the flask
  • Fill the flask with 200 ml of room temperature water, add the antacid tablet, and begin data collection
  • Repeat the experiment for warm water
  • Compare the pressure versus time graphs for both trials
  • Calculate the slope using any two data points and determine the equation for each plot
  • Compare the two equations
  • Use the concept of slope to describe the effect of temperature on chemical reaction rates
  • After the Activity

    Students' will examine the data, fill in the Student Data Collection and Analysis Sheet, and answer questions listed on it.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary