How to Do an Antacid Experiment

Using household items to demonstrate scientific principles is a great way to get kids interested in science and give them a visual way of understanding a scientific principle. Making a film canister rocket is a great way to teach kids about carbon dioxide or give them something to do when they get bored. To learn how to make a film canister rocket, a great antacid experiment, follow the steps below.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Film canister with snap-on lid
• Antacid tablets
• Tape
• Construction paper
• Baking soda
• Scissors
• Vinegar

Making a Film Canister Rocket Using Antacid Tablets

1. Decorate your film canister so that it looks like a rocket using your construction paper, scissors and tape. Remember to put the tip of the rocket on the bottom of the film canister since you will need to be able to fill your film canister with the carbon dioxide producing mixture.

2. Drop an antacid tablet into the bottom of your film canister.

3. Add 1 tsp. of water to your film canister and quickly seal the lid onto your film canister.

4. Set your rocket on a flat surface such as a table or the sidewalk, lid side down, and wait for it to take off. As the water dissolves, so much carbon dioxide builds up that the film canister explodes open, sending your rocket into the air.

5. Experiment with different amounts of water and numbers of antacid tablets to see how far you can get your rocket to travel. You might even experiment with adding different liquids, such as club soda, to your antacid tablets.

Tips & Warnings

• If your rocket fails to launch, make sure the liquid is not leaking out, indicating that the lid was not on tight enough.
• If you don't have any film canisters,ask a store that develops film, such as Wal-Mart or Kmart, whether they have any empty canisters you can have. If you still can't find a film canister, you might try using an empty medicine bottle with a snap-on lid.