Question

Give reason for the following

Neutralization plays an important role in the treatment of indigestion.

Answer 1

• Neutralization reaction- In this reaction, acid and base react to form salt and water.
• This reaction is also known as an acid-base reaction.
• For example- hydrochloric acid reacts with potassium hydroxide to form potassium chloride salt and water.
• $\underset{\mathrm{Hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}}{\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{hydroxide}}{\mathrm{KOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{chloride}}{\mathrm{KCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$
• Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid for multiple reasons including the killing of bacteria present in food.
• During indigestion, too much acid is produced inside the stomach resulting in stomach disorder or acidity.
• In order to retrieve the pain, we take bases such as milk of magnesia which contains magnesium hydroxide $\mathrm{Mg}{\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)}_2$
• Taking a base neutralizes the effect of excess acid and relieves the pain.