TO DETERMINE THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF
COMMERCIAL ANTACIDS
(Tablets)

CHEMISTRY

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Introduction
Digestion in the stomach results from the action of gastric fluid, which
includes secretions of digestive enzymes, mucous, and hydrochloric acid.
The acidic environment of the stomach makes it possible for inactive
forms of digestive enzymes to be converted into active forms (i.e.
pepsinogen into pepsin), acid is also needed to dissolve minerals and kill
bacteria that may enter the stomach along with food. However, excessive
acid production (hyperacidity) results in the unpleasant symptoms of
heartburn and may contribute to ulcer formation in the stomach lining.

Antacids are weak bases (most commonly bicarbonates, hydroxides,

and carbonates) that neutralize excess stomach acid and thus alleviate
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symptoms of heartburn. The general neutralization reaction is:

Antacid (weak base) + HCl (stomach acid)—> salts + H2O + CO2

The hydrochloric acid solution used in this experiment (0.1 M)

approximates the acid conditions of the human stomach, which is typically
0.4 to 0.5% HQ by mass (pH ~ 1). Antacids help people who have or get
heartburn. The following information will help people understand how
stomach acid works and what antacid will help those most.

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 Classification of antacids

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Antacid Formula Unwanted Effects

Sodium Bicarbonate NaHCO3 Fluid retention, Alkalosis
Magnesium Diarrhoea, Magnesium
Mg(OH)2
Hydroxide toxicity
Constipation, Drug or
Aluminium Hydroxide Al(OH)3 phosphate binding (inhibits
absorption)

Calcium Carbonate CaCO3 Acid rebound

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MECHANISM OF ACTION

Antacids perform a neutralization reaction, i.e. they buffer gastric acid,

raising the pH to reduce acidity in the stomach. When gastric hydrochloric
acid reaches the nerves in the gastrointestinal mucosa, they signal pain
to the central nervous system. This happens when these nerves are
exposed, as in peptic ulcers. The gastric acid may also reach ulcers in the
oesophagus or the duodenum. Other mechanisms may contribute, such
as the effect of aluminium ions inhibiting smooth muscle cell contraction
and delaying gastric emptying.

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AIM

To Determine the Effectiveness of Commercial

Antacids (Tablets) by conducting a quantitative
analysis.

Motives behind selecting this research project:

Consumerism, in the era of global industrialization, plays a very important

role. There are various product options available for consumers to choose
from. Different manufacturers selling their products, attempting to sway
public opinion in their favor, marketing their products regardless of their
effectiveness in functionality. Hence it becomes the consumer’s right to
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experiment and know the most effective, efficient, and value for money
product. There are various methods to conclude that a product out of all
the given competitors is the best. Experimental research is the most
rational and convincing one of those methods. The result of this analysis
could be used to inform oneself as to which antacid is the best and
provides best relief.

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 Material And Chemicals Required
i. BURETTE

ii. PIPETTE

iii. DIFFERENT ANTACID TABLETS

iv. BEAKERS

v. NaOH(sol)

vi. HCL(conc.)

vii. DISTILLED WATER

viii. SPATULLA

ix. BURETTE STAND

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x. WEIGHING MACHINE

xi. GLASS ROD

xii. BUNSEN BURNER

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THEORY
The efficiency of antacid tablets may be determined and compared by
finding the number of grams of HCl that can be neutralized by 1 gram of
the tablet, The higher the amount of HCl that can be neutralized by 1
gram of the tablet, the more efficient the antacid. In determining the
efficiency of an antacid tablet, the volume of un-reacted HCl in the antacid
mixture is titrated with NaOH.

The chemical equation that describes the reaction between HCl and
NaOH is:

HCL + NaOH  NaCI + H2O

The equation to calculate for the amount of HCl neutralized is:
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MHCL X VHCL = MNaOH X VNaOH

Acid-base titration is the combination of an acid solution with a base
solution until one fully neutralizes the other. The one that is fully
neutralized is of unknown concentration. At the point of neutralization, the
amount added to reach neutralization determines how much base or acid
was in the solution of unknown concentration. The solution of known
solution is called the “standard solution” or the “titrant.” Acid-base
titrations are not the only type of titration but they are the most common.
Antacids increase the pH of the stomach almost immediately to relieve
acid indigestion, heartburn, gastritis, and gastro-oesophageal reflux
disease (GERD). Antacids, like all medications, are attached to a base.
Antacids are attached to sodium, calcium, magnesium, or aluminium.

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 Procedure
PART – I: Standardization of HCl solution
i. A solution of NaOH, of known strength was provided. This NaOH
solution was used to determine the strength of the supplied HCl
solution (10 ml of HCl was used for titration).
ii. Phenolphthalein (2 - 3 drops) indicator was used.
iii. This solution was titrated till appearance of pink colour was
observed.

PART – II: Estimation of the strength of the given Antacid

solution
i. Given antacid solution (10 ml) was pipette out into a 250 ml conical
flask. 20 ml of distilled water and 2–3 drops of phenolphthalein
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indicator was added. The solution become pink in color.

ii. 20 ml of the given HCl solution was added from the burette. The
solution turned colorless.
iii. It was mixed thoroughly, and the mixture was warmed carefully
on a hot plate. Bubbling occured because of the liberation of CO 2
gas. When the red color returned, flask was cooled.
iv. 1 ml of HCl was added at a time, until the color disappeared. The
solution was boiled for 2 minutes.
v. The flask was cooled under the tap.
vi. Excess HCl was back titrated against NaOH solution ( taken in the
burette), whose strength was known. The first appearance of the
pink color gave the end point.

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vii. This procedure (Steps 1 to 5 above) was repeated with 10 ml of the
antacid solution.

ANTACID TABLETS USED

Antacid 1 Antacid 2
Digene Zantac 150

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Antacid 3
Pantaprazole

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OBSERVATION TABLE

TABLE 1: Standardization of HCl solution

Strength of NaOH solution = 0.1 N

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Volume of HCl used = 10 ml

S. No. Initial Reading Final Reading Titre Value (ml)
1 0 6.5 6.5
2 6.5 13 6.5
3 13 19.5 6.5

Strength of HCl = VNaOH X SNaOH = 0.065N

__________
V HCl

Strength of HCl = 0.065 N

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 CHEMISTRY

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TABLE 2: Determination of strength of Antacid Tablets (SA)
Volume of antacid solution used = 10 ml

ANTACID 1 (DIGENE)

S. No. Initial Reading Final Reading Titre Value (ml)

1 0 11.5 11.5
2 11.5 23 11.5
3 23 34.5 11.5

(10 x SA) + (v x S NaOH) = (20 x S HCl)

Strength of antacid (SA1) = 0.015NCHEMISTRY

ANTACID 2 (ZANTAC)

S. No. Initial Reading Final Reading Titre Value (ml)

1 0 5 5
2 5 10 5
3 10 15 5

(10 x SA) + (v x S NaOH ) = (20 x S HCl)

Strength of antacid (SA2) = 0.08N

ANTACID 3 (PENTACID)

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 S. No. Initial Reading Final Reading Titre Value (ml)
1 0 12 12
2 12 24 12
3 24 36 12

(10 x SA) + (v x SNaOH) = (20 x S HCl)

Strength of antacid (SA3) = 0.01N

REACTIONS INVOLVED

(i) HCl + NaOH  NaCl + H20

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(ii) CaCO3 + 2H3O+Ca2+ + 2H2O + H2CO3  H2O(l) + CO2(g)

For this particular experiment, back- titration occurs when an antacid is

dissolved in excess HCl(aq) and the remaining acid is then neutralized by
the standardized NaOH(aq) (Swartz, 2013). From this, the change in
molarity between the initial concentration of HCl(aq) and the moles
neutralized will determine the mass of the active ingredient in the antacid
that can later prove the effectiveness of antacid brands as buffers.

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RESULT:
1. Strength of HCl = 0.065 N

2. Strength of Antacid Tablet (1) = 0.015 N

3. Strength of Antacid Tablet (2) = 0.08 N

4. Strength of Antacid Tablet (3) = 0.01 N

The antacid which requires the least amount of Sodium Hydroxide

(NaOH) is the best antacid. From the recorded observation, Zantac
requires the least (5 ml), and is therefore the best Antacid.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Antacids are the substances used to neutralize stomach acids. The active
ingredients of most of the antacids are bases of calcium, magnesium and
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aluminium. In our work we used three solid tablets for the investigation of
acid neutralization efficiency. 1 g of each solid sample was taken and it
was neutralized with 10ml of HCl .The mixture was then titrated against
NaOH to neutralize the remaining acid. The volume of of NaOH required
for the neutralization of acid left in each sample indicated its neutralization
efficiency. From the volume of HCl required for neutralizing a definite
amount of antacid matter was calculated. This study lead to the
conclusion that in case of solid antacids Zantac is the most effective. This
project provides some idea about the ingredients of various antacids. The
information gained from this project will help people to realize the fact that
it is not the price or brand name or the external appearances that works.
Thus people can save money also.

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 CHEMISTRY

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