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General Chemistry Science Fair Project

Decongestant Dissolution in Stomach Acid

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Decongestant Dissolution in Stomach Acid | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Which allergy medicine dissolves fastest in your stomach? Different tablets break apart at different speeds. The coating and shape of each tablet affect how quickly it reaches your system. You dissolve three brands of decongestant in simulated stomach acid. The acid is a dilute hydrochloric acid solution with enzymes added to match real stomach conditions. You keep the temperature at body heat, around 37 degrees Celsius. Drop one tablet into the acid and start a timer. A magnetic stirrer keeps the liquid moving at a steady pace. Record how many minutes each brand takes to dissolve fully. Repeat the test five times per brand. Then run the same trials using plain water instead of acid. Compare the two sets of results. Benadryl dissolved fastest in both liquids, finishing in under four minutes each time.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis was that Sudafed would dissolve fastest in both the simulated stomach acid and water.

Method & Materials

You will measure the time it takes for the decongestants to dissolve in water and simulated stomach acid. You will use a digital timer to measure the time.
You will need a lab coat, goggles, latex gloves, magnetic stirrers, simulated stomach acid, a thermometer, a microwave, paper towels, digital timers, beakers, and tablets of Benadryl, Tylenol, and Sudafed.

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Results

The results of the experiment showed that Benadryl dissolved the fastest in both water and simulated stomach acid. This stands out because it was not the decongestant we hypothesized would dissolve the fastest.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it tests which decongestant dissolves the fastest in water and simulated stomach acid. It is unique because it tests the hypothesis that Sudafed would dissolve the fastest, but the results showed that Benadryl dissolved the fastest.

Also Consider

Variations to consider include testing more kinds of decongestants, more trials, and different temperatures.

Full project details

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