Making Sherbet

How to make Sherbet

Making sherbet is a great practical activity to show students the action of an acid on a carbonate.

When acids react with carbonates like bicarb of soda, carbon dioxide gas is produced.

General equation: Acid + metal carbonate → salt + water + carbon dioxide gas

Method:

1. Grind 2 tablespoons of sugar with ½ teaspoon of citric acid in a clean mortar and pestle.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of icing sugar, 2 teaspoons of flavoured jelly crystals and ½ teaspoon of bicarb of soda. Mix together.
3. Place the mixture into a plastic locking bag and shake. Eat with a paddle pop stick.

Questions: 

What puts the whiz in your fizz?

Citric acid + bicarb of soda → sodium citrate + water + carbon dioxide

HX     +  NaHCO₃          → NaX                 + H₂O    +  ___________

Which compound contains the carbonate group? _____________

The fizz is produced by the action of an _____________ (anagram: cida) on a carbonate.

____________  ____________ gas is produced.

This is the gas that puts the whiz into your fizz!