Planning an Investigation To Determine The Effectiveness of Indigestion Tablets at Neutralising Excess Stomach Acid.

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Planning an Investigation To Determine The Effectiveness of Indigestion Tablets at Neutralising Excess Stomach Acid

EXPERIMENT BRIEF:

Indigestion tablets can be used to neutralise acidity in the stomach.

You are to plan an experiment which will allow you to determine the effectiveness of an indigestion tablet at neutralising acid.

Your plan should survey the range of commercially available indigestion tablets. You should consider the active ingredient in each and the chemistry involved.

AIM:

To find out which indigestion tablet is best for neutralising excess stomach acid. I will be measuring how much hydrochloric acid it will take to neutralise 25.0ml of indigestion tablet solution.

INTRODUCTION:

The tablets in question are used for curing acid indigestion. Heartburn and acid indigestion is discomfort in the upper digestive tract. It can affect all ages but it is common in adults above 60 years old. The symptoms could be mistaken for a heart attack, or a heart attack could be mistaken for indigestion. Symptoms of this malady include: belching or slight regurgitation of stomach contents into the mouth, giving an acid taste, burning or an uncomfortable feeling in the chest, difficulty swallowing, mild abdominal pain or bloating, and occasional nausea or vomiting. This unpleasant condition can be avoided by refraining from smoking, overindulging in food and, especially, alcohol. Other measures include decreasing fat in the diet, not wearing tight clothing, and trimming down if you are overweight. Neutralising the excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach can treat acid indigestion. Adding a base or a carbonate, producing water, which is not a problem, usually does this.

Indigestion tablets:

Commercially Available Tablets

*         Pepcid Two (Jhonson & Jhonson)

        6 tablets=£2.25

*         Alkaseltzer (Bayer PLC)

        10 tablets=£2.19

*         Seltzer (Boots)

        10 tablets=£1.99

Aluminium- and magnesium- containing antacids

Aluminium- and magnesium-containing antacids, such as magnesium carbonate, hydroxide and trisilicate, and aluminium glycinate and hydroxide, being relatively insoluble in water are long-acting if retained in the stomach. They are suitable for most antacid purposes. Magnesium-containing antacids tend to be laxative whereas aluminium-containing antacids may be constipating. Aluminium accumulation does not appear to be a risk if renal function is normal.

*         Aluminium Hydroxide (Non-proprietary)

        Tablets, dried aluminium hydroxide 500mg.

        Net price 20=28p

*         Hydrotalcite (Hoechst Marion Roussel)

        Tablets, hydrotalcite 500mg (low Na+)

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        Net price 56=81p

*         Sodium Bicarbonate Tablets, Compound, BP

        Sodium bicarbonate 300mg. Contains about 4mmol Na+/tab

        Net price 50=56p

*         Maalox TC (Rhone-Poulenc Rorer)

        Tablets, co-maagaldrox 300/600 (magnesium hydroxide 300mg, dried aluminium         hydroxide 600mg (low Na+))

        Net price 100=£3.86

N.B.

Co-magoldrox is a mixture of aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide; the proportions are expressed in the form x/y where x and y are the strengths in milligrams per unit dose of magnesium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide respectively.

Having carried out my research, I discovered that the indigestion remedies could be any of  the following chemicals:

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