Kirstin Wickett
Chemistry
Alka-Seltzer Dissolves
December 6th, 2012
Problem Does Alka-Seltzer dissolve best in hot, cold, or room temperature water?
Hypothesis
If Alka-Seltzer is placed in hot water, then it will dissolve better than if it was placed in cold or room temperature water.
Independent Variable The independent variable is the temperature of the water.
Dependent Variable The dependent variable is the time the Alka-Seltzer takes to dissolve its best.
Controlled Variable The controlled variable is the type of liquid.
Alka-Seltzer is an effervescent antacid or pain reliever. Effervescent means that the tablet gives off bubbles and makes it fizzy, like a carbonated drink. Alka-Seltzer has three active ingredients which are Aspirin, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, and Citric Acid. The ingredients have not changed since it was invented. Alka-Seltzer was invented at Miles Medicine Company in Elkhart, Indiana. It was developed by Maurice Treener, which was head chemist at Miles. It was first marketed in 1931 by Dr. Miles Medicine Company. Alka-Seltzer had the same ingredients it has today. The only change was the PPA (phenylpropanolamine) was removed in 2000. In the past, it was sold in glass tubes, with the tablets inside, stacked. In stores today it's sold in foil packets, with two in each. Marketing for the Alka-Seltzer tablet has changed many times over the years. The product has been extensively advertised since its launch. It was originally marketed by Mikey Wiseman, a company scientist of Dr. Miles Medicine Company, who also helped direct and begin its development for advertising .Print advertising was utilized immediately,though it didn’t help much. There were many radio show advertising beginning in 1932 with Alka-Seltzer Comedy Star of Hollywood , National Barn Dance following in 1933, along with many more. The radio sponsorships continued into the 1950s, ending with the Alka-Seltzer Time show.
Two years after its launch came the repeal of Prohibition in the US, and Alka-Seltzer became Miles' new flagship product, displacing Miles Nervine Tonic. In 1951, the "Speedy" character was introduced. This character was originally named Sparky and was changed to Speedy by the Sales Manager Perry L. Shupert to align with that year's promotional theme, "Speedy Relief." This character appeared in a littler over two hundred TV commercials between 1954 and 1964, which was far over the average amount for a character to appear in a year. Speedy's body was an Alka-Seltzer tablet, he wore another as a hat. He declared Alka-Seltzer's good qualities and sang the Alka-Seltzer jingle which was “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, Oh what a relief it is” in Speedy's high pitched, squeaky voice (Dick Beals was the voice of Speedy.) The jingle was made by Tom Dawes of Twin Star Music. In December 2010,
