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General Chemistry Science Fair Project

Lactase Pill Brands and Dissolution Speed

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Lactase Pill Brands and Dissolution Speed | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Which brand of lactase pill dissolves the fastest? People who are lactose intolerant rely on these pills to digest dairy. A pill that dissolves quickly may start working sooner. You heat water to 37 degrees Celsius (body temperature) and pour it into a glass beaker on a magnetic stirrer. Drop one pill in and start a stopwatch. When the pill fully dissolves, stop the timer. Repeat five times for each brand. Four brands are tested: - Equate (Wal-Mart) - Western Family - Lactase Enzyme - Lactaid Ultra The Lactase Enzyme brand dissolves the fastest. The hypothesis that the rougher Equate pill would win turns out to be wrong.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the Equate brand will dissolve faster than the Western Family, Lactase Enzyme, and Lactaid Ultra brands.

Method & Materials

You will measure 250ml of tap water, heat it to 37 degrees Celsius, pour it into a glass beaker, and put it on a magnetic stirrer. Then you will drop in a pill and start a stopwatch. When the pill dissolves, you will stop the stopwatch and record the time. You will repeat this process for each brand of pill.
You will need 5 lactase pills for each of the 4 brands, 2 magnetic stirrers, 600ml of tap water, 2 300 ml glass beakers, 1 celsius thermometer, 1 pair of heat resistant gloves, 1 thick lap apron, 1 set of goggles, and 1 microwave.

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Results

The results of the experiment showed that the Lactase Enzyme brand dissolved the fastest. This stands out because it was not the brand that was predicted in the hypothesis.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it helps consumers make the best purchasing decision when it comes to lactase pills.

Also Consider

Variations to consider include testing the dissolution rate of the pills in simulated stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) and testing the dissolution rate of different brands of lactase pills.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
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