(a) What do you think will be the pH in the stomach of a person suffering from indigestion: less than 7 or more than 7?
(b) What do you think will be the pH of an antacid solution: less than 7 or more than 7?
(c) How does an antacid work?
(d) Name two common antacids.
(a) What do you think will be the pH in the stomach of a person suffering from indigestion: less than 7 or more than 7?
(b) What do you think will be the pH of an antacid solution: less than 7 or more than 7?
(c) How does an antacid work?
(d) Name two common antacids.
(a) The pH of the stomach of a person suffering from indigestion will be less than 7 because the food is not digested so more HCl may be produced.
(b) pH of an antacid will be more than 7 as they are basic in nature.
(c)Your stomach normally produces acid to help with the digestion of food and to kill germs (bacteria). This acid is corrosive so your body produces a natural mucous barrier which protects the lining of the stomach from being worn away (eroded). In some people this barrier may have broken down allowing the acid to damage the stomach, causing an ulcer. In others, there may be a problem with the muscular band at the top of the stomach (the sphincter) that keeps the stomach tightly closed. This may allow the acid to escape and irritate the gullet (oesophagus). This is called acid reflux, which can cause heartburn and/or inflammation of the gullet (oesophagitis).
Antacids work by counteracting (neutralising) the acid in your stomach. They do this because the chemicals in antacids are bases (alkalis) which are the opposite of acids. A reaction between an acid and base is called neutralisation. This neutralisation makes the stomach contents less corrosive. This can help to relieve the pain associated with ulcers and the burning sensation in acid reflux.
When antacids work on stomach acid, they can produce gas which may cause wind (flatulence). Simeticone helps to stop this foaming effect and may sometimes be included within antacid medications.
(d)Common types of antacids
- aluminium hydroxide.
- magnesium carbonate.
- magnesium trisilicate.
- magnesium hydroxide.
- calcium carbonate.
- sodium bicarbonate.
(a) The pH of the stomach of a person suffering from indigestion will be less than 7 because the food is not digested so more HCl may be produced.
(b) pH of an antacid will be more than 7 as they are basic in nature.
(c)Your stomach normally produces acid to help with the digestion of food and to kill germs (bacteria). This acid is corrosive so your body produces a natural mucous barrier which protects the lining of the stomach from being worn away (eroded). In some people this barrier may have broken down allowing the acid to damage the stomach, causing an ulcer. In others, there may be a problem with the muscular band at the top of the stomach (the sphincter) that keeps the stomach tightly closed. This may allow the acid to escape and irritate the gullet (oesophagus). This is called acid reflux, which can cause heartburn and/or inflammation of the gullet (oesophagitis).
Antacids work by counteracting (neutralising) the acid in your stomach. They do this because the chemicals in antacids are bases (alkalis) which are the opposite of acids. A reaction between an acid and base is called neutralisation. This neutralisation makes the stomach contents less corrosive. This can help to relieve the pain associated with ulcers and the burning sensation in acid reflux.
When antacids work on stomach acid, they can produce gas which may cause wind (flatulence). Simeticone helps to stop this foaming effect and may sometimes be included within antacid medications.
(d)Common types of antacids
- aluminium hydroxide.
- magnesium carbonate.
- magnesium trisilicate.
- magnesium hydroxide.
- calcium carbonate.
- sodium bicarbonate.
