NaOH is not used in antacid tabletsbecause it is harmful to the tissues. Doing so can cause seriousdamage, or even dissolvement of vital organs. That is because thepurpose of antacids are to be released slowly, where the useof NaOH would be quick and harmful.
Magnesium combined with hydroxide or carbonateions may help neutralize the acid in your stomach.These magnesium-containing products can give youshort-term relief from acid reflux symptoms.
Antacid, also spelled antiacid, any substance,such as sodium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate,or aluminum hydroxide, used to counteract or neutralize gastricacids and relieve the discomfort caused by gastricacidity.
It is a strong base and is widely used as aninexpensive alkali, often as a suspension in water (milk of lime)it is used in leather tanning to remove hair from hides.Limewater is a clear, saturated water solution of calciumhydroxide. It is used in medicine to treat acid burnsand as an antacid.
Take antacids about 1 hour after eating or whenyou have heartburn. If you are taking them for symptoms atnight, DO NOT take them with food. Antacids cannottreat more serious problems, such as appendicitis, a stomach ulcer,gallstones, or bowel problems.
Antacids interfere with gastrointestinal drugabsorption by either increasing or decreasing the rate atwhich a drug is absorbed, or the total quantityabsorbed. Antacids influence drug absorptionby alteration of ionization state or solubility, factors dependentupon pH.
Mechanism of action
When excessive amounts of acids are produced in thestomach the natural mucous barrier that protects the lining of thestomach can damage the esophagus in people with acid reflux.Antacids contain alkaline ions that chemically neutralizestomach gastric acid, reducing damage and relievingpain.A neutralization reaction is when an acid and abase react to form water and a salt and involves thecombination of H+ ions and OH- ions togenerate water. The neutralization of a strong acid andstrong base has a pH equal to 7. Table 1: The most common strongacids and bases.
Phenolphthalein (HIn) is weakly acidic in nature.And in aqueous solution, it dissociates into and ions. Thepink colour of the solution is due to the concentration ofions in the solution. Under acidic conditions, the concentration ofin the solution is very low and concentration of is high, hence itis colourless.
Your stomach contains HCl, HydrochloricAcid which is responsible for digestion. When an antacidtablet is added, acid-(bi)carbonate or acid-base reactionoccurs and this neutralizes the acid. This relieves theheartburn or other discomfort.
The word of that accomplishment spread around the world,and it kickstarted a new era in antacid experimentation. In1872, an English pharmacist named John Henry Phillips patented Milkof Magnesia, a stable solution of magnesium hydroxide in water thathe sold at retail.
Therefore, it is not necessary to use anacid-base indicator. Drano® contains twobases, sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite, andtherefore there will be two end points.
Examples of antacids include:
- Alka-Seltzer.
- Milk of Magnesia.
- Alternagel, Amphojel.
- Gaviscon, Gelusil, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids.
- Pepto-Bismol.
- Tums.
