Use it as a demonstration or vary the amounts of citric acid
and sodium bicarbonate to make an experiment.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Minutes
1. Pour the citric acid solution in a styrofoam
coffee cup. Use a thermometer or other temperature probe to record the initial
temperature.
2. Stir in the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
Track the change in temperature as a function of time.
3. The reaction is: H3C6H5O7(aq) + 3 NaHCO3(s)
--> 3 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(l) + NaC6H5O7(aq)
4. When you have completed your demonstration or
experiment, simply wash the cup out in a sink. No toxic chemicals to mess with!