Table of Contents
Why do many antacids contain bases?
Antacids are bases used to neutralize the acid that causes heartburn. Despite the many commercial brand, almost all antacids act on excess stomach acid by neutralizing it with weak bases. The most common of these bases are hydroxides, carbonates, or bicarbonates.
Can bases act as an antacid?
Uses of bases Magnesium hydroxide is used as an ‘antacid’ to neutralize excess acid in the stomach and cure indigestion. Sodium bicarbonate (or sodium hydrogen carbonate) is used as baking soda in cooking food, for making baking powders, as an antacid to cure indigestion and in soda acid fire extinguisher.
What is the purpose of bases?
Bases are substances that, when dissolved in water, have a pH level greater than seven, taste bitter, and feel slippery. They react with acids by accepting H+ ions, giving bases the ability to neutralize acids. Bases are commonly found in cleaning products and antacid medications.
Why is heartburn treated using a base?
This acid is used to digest the food we eat, but it can often back up into the esophagus causing that burning sensation many of us are familiar with. The symptoms of heartburn can be treated with a mild base, which acts to neutralize the excess HCl.
Which base you can use as an antacid?
Bases
| Some Common Bases | Uses |
|---|---|
| magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2 (milk of magnesia) | Used as an ingredient in laxatives, antacids, and deodorants. Also used in the neutralization of acidic wastewater. |
| calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2 (slaked lime) | Used in the manufacture of cement and lime water. Also, added to neutralize acidic soil. |
Are antacids strong or weak base?
Antacids are weak bases that act by neutralizing gastric acid (Fig. 4.8). Raising the pH of the stomach contents results in suppression of the action of pepsin that exacerbates ulceration due to acid. Thus, antacids can be used to relieve gastric pain caused by excessive acid secretion.
How are antacids used in the human body?
Antacids are substances that neutralize the acids secreted by the stomach. The acidity in the stomach is the root of sensations like irritation and heartburn. This sensation relieves by the action of antacids.
Which is an example of an antacid base?
Antacids generally constitute bases which are not corrosive in nature and are edible. Mostly, hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates are taken as the compounds used for this purpose. Some examples are aluminium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, etc.
Why do antacids make your stomach less corrosive?
They do this because the chemicals in antacids are bases (alkalis) which are the opposite of acids. A reaction between an acid and base is called neutralisation. This neutralisation makes the stomach contents less corrosive.
In Summary: Buffers, pH, Acids, and Bases. The pH of a solution is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution. A solution with a high number of hydrogen ions is acidic and has a low pH value. A solution with a high number of hydroxide ions is basic and has a high pH value.