Biology Internal Assessment Plan

Title: How do various commercial antacids affect protein digestion in the

stomach?
Zehra Batool

Hypothesis: Use of antacids inhibits the digestion of proteins since it neutralizes

the acid.
Introduction
Proteins are broken down into amino acids in the stomach by an enzyme called Pepsin. The
gastric juice released in the stomach provides an ideal environment for the enzyme pepsin to
work. Sometimes, people use antacids to relieve heartburn, acid indigestion or stomach upset
etc. The antacid works by neutralizing the stomach acid, while doing so it also alters the
digestion of protein. This investigation is planned to find out how protein digestion is affected
by various commercial antacids.

Methodology
A control tube will be set up first. The control tube will demonstrate how pepsin digests protein
in stomach acid without the presence of an antacid. The Ph of the control will be around 2,
which is the ph of gastric acid.
Procedure for setting up the control tube:
To a control tube A, add 1ml 0.1M HCL+ ML Pepsin and Egg white
Four more test tubes will be prepared, but this time the antacids will be added to the solution.
Test Tube A: 0.1M HCL+ ML Pepsin + Egg white + Antacid A
Test Tube B: 0.1M HCL+ ML Pepsin + Egg white + Antacid B
Test Tube C: 0.1M HCL+ ML Pepsin + Egg white + Antacid C
Test Tube D: 0.1M HCL+ ML Pepsin + Egg white + Antacid D
Preparation of the Egg White:
The egg white will be picked up into the stem of a disposable (plastic) pipette and it will put in
hot water to harden. Once it hardens, the stem of the pipette will be cut into identical pieces 3
cm in length. Egg white stems will be put into the respective test tubes. For each test tube after
every 20 minutes, the egg whites will be removed and their mass and length will be measured
to determine the rate of protein digestion. This will be repeated until the test tubes are clear.
To compare the results, the ANOVA theory will be applied.

Apparatus
Eggs
Milk of magnesia
Eno
Aluminium carbonate antacid (basal gel tablets or any other available brand)
Calcium carbonate antacid (Any brand)
Pepsin solution
Disposable/Plastic pipette
Hydrochloric acid ph 2
5 test tubes
Water bath (to keep all test tubes at 37 C)
Ruler

Independent Variable: Time

Dependent Variable: mass/length of egg white