The Dissolution Rate of DifferentBrands of Ibuprofen
Researched by Carmelle S. 2002-03	PURPOSE  HYPOTHESIS  EXPERIMENT DESIGN  MATERIALS  PROCEDURES  RESULTS  CONCLUSION  RESEARCH REPORT  BIBLIOGRAPHY  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  ABOUT THE RESEACHER

The purpose of this experiment was to determine which brand of ibuprofen would dissolve the quickest. 

I became interested in this idea when I noticed my sister complaining about pain relievers not working fast enough.

The information gained from this experiment could help consumers decide which brand of ibuprofen would dissolve the quickest for fast pain relief.

My hypothesis was that the brand name Motrin IB of ibuprofen would take the least time to dissolve.

I based my hypothesis on the fact that Motrin IB was the most expensive of the brands of ibuprofen, therefore, I predicted that the ibuprofen brand name Motrin IB would dissolve the quickest.

The constants in this study were:

• The amount of hydrochloric acid solution each analgesic is dissolved in (125-mL)
• The temperature of the hydrochloric acid each analgesic tablet was dissolved in (34 to 37 degrees centigrade)
• The concentration of the hydrochloric acid(0.01 molar)
• The strength of the analgesic (regular) 
• The area of which the experiment was done
• The amount of each brand of pain relievers being tested
• The type of pain reliever being tested (ibuprofen)
• The active ingredient in the analgesic (ibuprofen)

The responding variable was how long it took for the different analgesics to dissolve. 
To measure the responding variable I used a digital stopwatch. 

1. Put on the latex gloves, apron, and goggles.
2. Ready the magnetic stirrer, beakers, digital stopwatch, and the thermometer.
3. Using the thermometer, make sure that the temperature of the hydrochloric acid is between 34 and 37 degrees centigrade, otherwise heat it or cool it to get the right temperature.
4. Pour 125-ml of hydrochloric acid solution into each of the two beakers.
5. Put the beakers on the magnetic stirrer and put the magnet for the magnetic stirrer into the beakers.
6. Drop one pain reliever into each beaker and turn on the magnetic stirrer.
7. Lay a piece of paper towel over each beaker.
8. Immediately start timing how long it takes for the pain reliever tablets to dissolve completely.
9. Once the pain reliever tablets have dissolved completely, record time and dispose of the solution properly.
10. Rinse out the two glass beakers. Dry them thoroughly.
11. Repeat #4-10 so that you have dissolved five pain relievers of each brand. 

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine which brand of ibuprofen would dissolve the quickest. 

The results of the experiment were that the Equate brand of Ibuprofen took an average time of 151.6 seconds to dissolve, which means that brand dissolved the quickest. Advil took an average 287.6 seconds and the Bi-Mart brand took an average 534.6 seconds to dissolve. Motrin IB took the longest time to dissolve, an average 586.8 seconds.

See the table and graph.

My hypothesis was the brand name Motrin IB would take the least time to dissolve.

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected.

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if different types of pain reliever would dissolve at different rates.  For example, would aspirin or acetaminophen dissolve faster than ibuprofen.

If I were to conduct this project again, I would test more brands of ibuprofen, and conduct more trials of each brand. 

Research Report Introduction  People take analgesics to relieve themselves of pain. Some people take ibuprofen. Sometimes, people want pain relief quickly. If the ibuprofen tablet dissolves quickly, the person would get quicker pain relief. Analgesic  Analgesics are a class of drugs that, without causing the loss of consciousness, relieve pain. They usually interfere with pain impulse transmissions in the nervous system. Analgesics may be narcotic or nonnarcotic. A number of analgesics contain codeine or other narcotics combined with nonnarcotic analgesics.   Narcotics are deprived from the opium poppy. They act on the brain to cause deep analgesia. Sometimes, it also causes drowsiness. Narcotics relieve coughing spasms so they are used in many cough syrups. Besides relieving pain, narcotics give the patient a feeling of well being. It is also addictive. Manufactures have attempted to produce non-addictive synthetic narcotic derivatives, but have not been successful. Pain relievers are nonnarcotics. They are commonly used. Pain Relievers  Pain relievers are taken to relieve pain or discomfort. They are distinct from anesthetics and sedatives. Anesthetics are drugs that are taken to deaden feeling. Sedatives aid to relaxation or sleep. Pain is not a disease, but a symptom. Ibuprofen  Ibuprofen is used to reduce fever, inflammation, and sensation pain. Ibuprofen is analgesic. Ibuprofen in the prescribed form is used to relieve more severe symptoms associated with arthritis. Non-prescribed forms of ibuprofen are taken for low intensity pain, and fever.   Ibuprofen works by inhibiting the action of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that cause inflammation and contribute to the brains perception of pain. It reduces fever by blocking prostaglandin-synthesis in the hypothalamus, a structure in the brain that regulates body temperature. It also acts as an anticoagulant, suppressing the formation of blood clots.   The dosage for mild-moderate pain in nonprescription is 400 mg taken every 4-6 hours as necessary. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, but it can irritate the stomach, the pills should be taken with water and may be take with food. It can also aggravate high blood pressure and damage the kidneys. It is not recommended for use by pregnant women. Prolonged use can result in ulcers and internal bleeding. That is because it blocks the production of the stomachs lining’s protective mucus barrier. Ibuprofen also prevents the body from excreting salt and water properly. Solution  A solution is a mixture of two or more substances that cannot be separated by mechanical means. Filtration is one example a mechanical means of separation.  Acids  An acid is any group of chemical compounds with certain similar properties. Solutions of acid have a sour taste. They produce a prickling or burning sensation when in contact with skin. They can dissolve many metals and turn blue litmus paper red. Chemical compounds that neutralize acids are called bases of alkalis. There are many acids that occur naturally. Some acids are essential for life. Hydrochloric Acid  Hydrochloric acid is a dangerous chemical. It has many important industrial uses. It is a colorless liquid with an irritating odor. When exposed to air it fumes. It is highly corrosive and can cause serious burns if not handled carefully. Hydrochloric acid is also called muriatic acid. The chemical formula for hydrochloric acid is HCI. It is made by dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water. Hydrochloric acid is also produced in the human stomach to aid digestion. Conclusion Many people use ibuprofen to get pain relief. They also use it to reduce inflammation and fever. Pain relievers are common ways to treat pain that people get.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Anderson, Nicole.  "Pain Relievers." Nov /15/02 <http://www.fairwhealth.org/stories.asp?article=pain.asp> Fox, Marye Anne    "Solution." World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 vol. 18  pp.587 Smith, Carolyn J.    "Hydrochloric Acid." World Book Encyclopedia. 1998 vol. 9  pp.465  "Acid." World Book Encyclopedia, 1991 vol. 1 pp. 26-27 Mullen, Peggy Buucher.  Prescription Drugs. USA: Publication International, Ltd., 1992. pp. 32. Loeser, John D. "Pain reliever." Microsoft Encarta.  2000 edition. CD-ROM. Redmond, WA  "Pain Relievers." Microsoft Encarta.  2000 edition. CD-ROM. Redmond, WA

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people:

• My Advanced Science teacher, for helping me get a lot of my materials for my science experiment.
• My dad, for helping me get through my experiment design and procedures.
• My sister, for helping me choose a topic for my experiment.
• A student helper, for helping me with my experiment and taking pictures while I was doing it.
• My mom, for bringing me to after school periods to work on my science project and picking me up afterwards.
• My regular science teacher, for excusing me from class time to work on my project. 

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