Question:
Why does Alka-Seltzer fizz in water?
Answer:
Alka- Seltzer is a combination of dry chemicals:
aspirin:
citric acid
sodium bicarbonate
All of the chemicals dissolve in water. When the citric acid and the sodium bicarbonate dissolve, they can then react with each other.
Citric Acid + Sodium Bicarbonate -> yields-> water + carbon dioxide + sodium citrate
The fizz is due to production of carbon dioxide gas.
For more information about the chemical reaction that occurs when an Alka Seltzer tablet is dropped into water, see
CHEMISTRY: ALKA SELTZER
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