Question

Explain the following:
(a) Antiseptics
(b) Artificial sweetening
(c) Antacids

Answer 1

(a) Antiseptics:
These are drugs applied to living tissues to kill the bacteria and to stop their growth in wound and prevent infection. They do not heal the wound. They prevent the infection. Examples include dettol, tincture iodine, bithional, iodoform, boric acid and phenol.
(b) Artificial sweetening agents:
They do not occur in nature but are synthesized in the laboratory. They have sweet taste but no food value. Examples include saccharin, aspartame, sucrulose and akitame.
(c) Antacids:
These are basic compounds used to neutralise excess stomach acid. They control the symptoms and not the cause. Examples include sodium bicarbonate and metal hydroxides of magnesium and aluminium.