Investigation into the efficiency of various indigestion tablets.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Investigation into the efficiency of

various indigestion tablets

Planning

Indigestion is a general term used to describe discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen or chest, which is sometimes experienced while our bodies digest the food we eat. A better and more scientific term for indigestion is dyspepsia. Indigestion is caused by too much acid in the stomach. Indigestion tablets contain bases, which neutralise the excessive hydrochloric acid.

The three indigestion tablets that I used all contained calcium carbonate as the active ingredient. Setlers is however the only indigestion tablet with just that active ingredient. Both Rennie and Bisodol also contained magnesium carbonate and, additionally, Bisodol also contained sodium bicarbonate.

When the indigestion tablets come in contact with the HCl, the following chemical reactions will occur:

- Setlers: CaCO3 + 2HCl --> CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

- Rennie: CaCO3 + 2HCl --> CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

MgCO3 + 2HCl --> MgCl2 + CO2 + H2O

- Bisodol: CaCO3 + 2HCl --> CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

MgCO3 + 2HCl --> MgCl2 + CO2 + H2O

NaHCO3 + HCl