Ghubaya College of Pharmacy 9485500085 Pharmaceutical Chemistry-I

ANTACIDS
Antacids are substances which on ingestion react with the gastric acid and lower the acidity of gastric
contents. They produce a symptomatic relief of heartburn. Antacids are weak bases and they raise the gastric
pH above 4 by neutralising excess gastric hydrochloric acid.
Ideal characteristics of antacids:
• Not be absorbable or cause systemic alkalosis;
• not liberate carbon dioxide, and cause rebound hyperacidity;
• not interfere with absorption of food;
• not be a laxative or cause constipation:
• be quick acting and exert its effect over a long period of time;
• buffer in the pH 4-6 range:
• probably inhibit pepsin; and be palatable and inexpensive

Antacids can be classified as:-

(i) Systemic (absorbable) antacids: which are soluble, readily absorbable and capable of producing
systemic electrolytic alterations and alkalosis e.g. sodium bicarbonate.

(ii) Non-systemic (non-absorbable) antacids: which are not absorbed to a significant extent and thus do
not exert an appreciable systemic effect. This group is further sub-divided into following:—

(a) Aluminium containing antacids: e.g. aluminium hydroxide, aluminium phosphate,

dihydroxyaluminium aminoacetate, dihydroxyaluminium sodium carbonate, basic aluminium carbonate
(gel).

(b) Calcium containing antacids: e.g. calcium carbonate, tribasic calcium phosphate.

(c) Magnesium containing antacids: e.g. magnesium carbonate. magnesium citrate, magnesium
hydroxide, magnesium oxide. magnesium phosphate, magnesium trisilicate.

Combination antacid preparations: e.g. aluminium hydroxide gel & magnesium hydroxide, aluminium
hydroxide gel and magnesium trisilicite, magaldratc (monoalium hydrate; hydrated magnesium aluminatc),
sintethicone (defoaniing agent)

SODIUM BICARBONATE
Chemical formula: NaHCO3 Mol wt: 84.01
Common name: Baking Soda, Mitha Soda
Synonym: Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate.
Preparation:
(1) Solvay process (Ammonia Soda process): Most of the sodium bicarbonate is manufactured by the Solvay
process which is also called the Ammonia Soda process.
NH3 + CO2 + H2O NH4HCO3
(Ammonia) (Carbon dioxide) (Water) (Ammonium bicarbonate)

NH4HCO3 + NaCl NaHCO3 + NH4Cl

(Ammonium bicarbonate) (Sodium chloride) (Sodium bicarbonate) (Ammonium chloride)

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Ghubaya College of Pharmacy 9485500085 Pharmaceutical Chemistry-I

Properties:
(i) Physical: It occurs as white crystalline powder or small opaque monoclinic crystals. It is odourless but
has got saline taste. It is freely soluble in water but practically insoluble in alcohol.
(ii) Chemically properties: it has an alkaline nature; pH of aqueous solution is about 8.2 and is easily
neutralised by an acid with evolution of carbon dioxide.

Uses:
(1) Sodium bicarbonate was used as an antacid to reduce excessive acidity of gastric juice
(2) It is specific in the treatment of systemic acidosis.
(3) It is used as electrolyte replenisher.
(4) 5% solution of sodium bicarbonate is used as ear drops to soften and remove ear wax.
(5) It is one of the ingredients in Compound Sodium Bicarbonate tablets.
(6) It is also an ingredient in many effervescent antacid preparations.
(7) Its main function is to react with an acid (e.g. citric, tartaric, etc.) with the evolution of carbon dioxide

ALUMINIUM CONTAINING ANTACIDS

These am most widely used antacids. They are non-systemic and buffer in the pH range 3 to 5.

Aluminium Hydroxide Gel

Chemical formula: Al (OH) 3 Mol wt : 77.99

Aluminium hydroxide gel is recognised in two physical forms:

(a) Aluminium Hydroxide Gel: It is an aqueous white viscous suspension of hydrated aluminium oxide
with varying amount of basic aluminium carbonate and contains not less than 3.5% w/v and not more than
4.4% w/v or aluminium oxide.

(b) Dried Aluminium Hydroxide Gel: It is a white, odourless, tasteless amorphous powder, insoluble in
water and alcohol but soluble in dilute mineral acids and solutions of fixed alkali hydroxide. The dry
powder when ignited to a constant weight yields not less than 47.0%.

Preparation: It is prepared from a solution of an aluminium salt (e.g. alum, aluminium sulphate. etc.) by
precipitation with sodium or ammonium carbonate: the first formed aluminium carbonate is very unstable
and is immediately hydrolysed to aluminium hydroxide and carbon dioxide. After complete removal of CO2,
the precipitated aluminium hydroxide is filtered.

Storage: The Gel should be stored at temperature not exceeding 25°C; it should not be allowed to freeze.
The Dried Gel should be stored in airtight containers at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.

Uses: Dried aluminium hydroxide gel is used as mild astringent and desiccant. It is used in the treatment of
diarrhoea and cholera and as protective.

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