Maria Lagnese Period 2 Honors Chemistry Aluminum Carbonate

Lagnese 1

Aluminum carbonate, or Al2(CO3)3, is an ionic com ound that is hardly considered to be in e!istence ("ebchem)# $t is an insoluble aluminum source and is a %salt &orm o& aluminum carbonate designed &or oral indigestion' (American(lements) ()rugs#com)# $t has been used as a medicine called *asal+el to relie,e and treat -astroeso hageal re&lu! disease, gastritis, hiatal hernia, e tic eso hagitis, and other stomach related illnesses (.ones / *artlett Learning 01) (2ayhorn 2) (Medicinenet)# $t 3as manu&actured by "yeth but has been discontinued ()rugs#com)# $t is also 4no3n generically as aluminum carbonate oral, or e,en aluminum carbonate gel 3hen used in a gel &orm (2!List) (PubChem)# Aluminum carbonate is made u o& nine o!ygen atoms, three carbon atoms, and t3o aluminum atoms (PubChem)# 5he aluminum ions in it are 36 cations that are so small and highly olari7ed that they cause the carbonate (CO328) ion to sel&8decom ose ("ebchem)# 5his is 3hy it is considered non8e!istent# $t decom oses too 9uic4ly to do much# Once it has decom osed, the carbon dio!ide in it is dri,en a3ay, and this lea,es aluminum o!ide ("ebchem)# 5he main use o& aluminum carbonate 3as as an antacid (Medicinenet)# $t 3as used to neutrali7e and reduce stomach acid, and also to hel treat ulcers# 5he harmaceutical com any "yeth 3as the main, and robably only, manu&acturer o& aluminum carbonate ()rugs#com)# 5hey manu&actured it under the name *asal+el

Lagnese 2 (Medicinenet) (PubChem) (.ones / *artlett Learning 01)# $t came in a li9uid &orm that 3ould get mi!ed 3ith some ty e o& drin4 &or consum tion (Medicinenet)# $t also came in tablets and ca sules that 3ould be s3allo3ed 3ith 3ater (Medicinenet)# Aluminum carbonate 3as to be ta4en ,ery care&ully at the correct doses# $& too much 3as used, it could actually raise the acidity o& the stomach (Medicinenet)# $t 3as not rescribed to anyone 3ith 4idney disease, a disorder that causes the slo3 em tying o& the stomach, or i& they 3ere ta4ing any other medicines ()rugs#com)# Aluminum carbonate could ha,e inter&ered 3ith the absor tion o& other medicines, e,en ossibly undoing their e&&ects, i& ta4en at the same time (Medicinenet)# $t 3as also recommended that someone 3ho 3as regnant or nursing not ta4e *asal+el, as the e&&ects to an unborn or nursing baby 3ere un4no3n ()rugs#com)# *asal+el had se,eral ossible side e&&ects# Loss o& a etite and consti ation or diarrhea 3ere common, and eo le on the medicine 3ere told to 4ee an eye out &or these side e&&ects (2ayhorn 2)# More serious side e&&ects included dar4 ,omit and stool, and allergic reactions (Medicinenet) ()rugs#com)# $t 3as also ossible to o,erdose on aluminum carbonate# :ym toms o& o,erdose included 3eight loss, muscle 3ea4ness, 4idney &ailure and bone so&tening ()rugs#com)# $& someone o,erdosed, they had to see4 emergency medical attention ()rugs#com)# Aluminum carbonate 3as discontinued, because "yeth 3as bought out by P&i7er, another harmaceutical com any ()rugs#com)# 5oday, aluminum carbonate is +ust considered a non8e!istent ionic com ound, and is not used &or anything anymore ("ebchem)#