CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF
COMMERCIAL ANTACIDS
A Project Report

Submitted by

Vedant Deo

IN

CHEMISTRY
AT

2019-20
 CERTIFICATE

RAHUL
INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL

This is to certify that this “Chemistry Investigatory Project”

on the topic “ANTACIDS” has been successfully completed
by Vedant Deo of class 12 under the guidance of Mr. Ravi
Kori in particular fulfillment of the curriculum of Central
Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) leading the award of
annual examination of the year 2019-2020.

HEAD OF SCHOOL TEACHER INCHARGE

EXTERNAL EXAMINER
 INDEX

Sr. Title Page No.

No.
1. Certificate 1

2. Acknowledgement 3

3. Introduction 4

4. Mechanism of Antacids
5. Types of Antacids
6. Side Effects
7. Experiment (Procedure)
8. Conclusion
9. Bibliography
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The enduring pages of the work are the cumulative sequence of extensive
guidance and arduous work. I wish to acknowledge and express my
personal gratitude to all those without whom this project could not have
been reality.

First and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude to our

principal, for providing us with state of the art laboratories and
infrastructure and also providing her valuable suggestions and feedback,
which were instrumental in shaping up the project work. Without her help,
this project would remain unaccomplished.

I would like to sincerely thank our chemistry faculty for spending

their precious time with us enhancing our knowledge regarding project.
Their help is unforgettable as this project is built on the concepts that they
have taught us. They always motivated us and ensured that we were on the
right track.
My heartfelt thanks to my parents and other family members who have
constantly motivated and supported me during the making of this project
work.

This project would be incomplete without thanking my peers who

always lent a helping hand and showed true spirit of unity and friendship.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the authors and

publishers of the books and managements of the websites, we referred to(as
in Bibliography), for having provided us with us valuable information.

Signature of the student

INTRODUCTION

It is well known that the food we take undergoes a series of complex

reactions within the body which constitute digestion and metabolism.
These reactions are catalyzed by enzymes which are very specific in their
action and can function properly only when the pH of the medium is within
a specific range.

Some enzymes require mildly alkaline conditions while others operate only
in weakly acidic media. Amongst the latter category of enzymes are the
enzymes that control the digestion of proteins present in the food as it
reaches the stomach. In the stomach, dilute hydrochloric acid is secreted
and it provides mildly acidic conditions required for the functioning of
protein digesting enzymes in the stomach.

Gastric acid is a digestive fluid, formed in the stomach. It has a pH of 1.5

to 3.5 and is composed of 0.5 % hydrochloric acid (HCl). It is produced by
cells lining the stomach, which are coupled to systems to increase acid
production when needed.

Other cells in the stomach produce bicarbonate to buffer the acid, ensuring
the pH does not drop too low (acid reduces pH). Also cells in the beginning
of the small intestine, or duodenum, produce large amounts of bicarbonate
to completely neutralize any gastric acid that passes further down into the
digestive tract. The bicarbonate-secreting cells in the stomach also produce
and secrete mucus. Mucus forms a viscous physical barrier to prevent
gastric acid from damaging the stomach.

However, sometimes the stomach begins to secrete an excess of HCl. This

leads to a condition known as Gastric Hyper acidity. This condition can
also be triggered by the intake of to much food or highly spiced food. This,
in turn, makes the stomach lining cells to secrete more acid resulting in
Hyper acidity. It also leads to acute discomfort due to indigestion.

To counter this situation, substances like Antacids or literally anti - acids,

have been developed. Antacids are commercial products that neutralize the
excess acid in the stomach providing a sensation of relief to the person.
The action of antacids is based on the fact that a base can neutralize an acid
forming salt and water.

Common antacids satisfy the condition – right amount of alkali that can
neutralize the acid. If the content of alkali in the antacid is too high, no
doubt acidity is relieved, but it’ll create alkaline conditions that makes the
digestive enzymes ineffective.
To make sure that the pH of the stomach remains in a specific range, many
substances are added to the antacids.

Working of Antacids

If the antacid contains NaHCO3 then the reaction that occurs

in the stomach is:-
NaHCO3 + HCl ===> H2O + CO2 + NaCl

The excess Na+ and HCO3-ions are absorbed by the walls of the small
intestines as the food passes through it and the H2CO3 formed during the
reaction decomposes rapidly to form water and carbon dioxide gas.
Types of Antacids

 Sodium Antacids (Alka-Seltzer, Bromo-Seltzer and Others):

Sodium bicarbonate (commonly known as baking soda) is perhaps
the best-known of the sodium-containing antacids. It is potent and
fast-acting. As its name suggests, it is high in sodium. If you're on a
salt-restricted diet, and especially if the diet is intended to treat high
blood pressure (hypertension), take a sodium-containing antacid only
under a doctor's orders.

 Calcium Antacids (Tums, Alka-2, Titralac and Others): Antacids in

the form of calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate are also potent
and fast-acting. Regular or heavy doses of calcium (more than five
or six times per week) can cause constipation. Heavy and extended
use of this product may clog your kidneys and cut down the amount
of blood they can process. Extended use of calcium antacids can also
cause kidney stones.

 Magnesium Antacids (Maalox, Mylanta, Riopan, Gelusil and

Others): Magnesium salts come in many forms -- carbonate,
glycinate, hydroxide, oxide, trisilicate, and aluminosilicate.
Magnesium has a mild laxative effect; it can cause diarrhea. For this
reason, magnesium salts are rarely used as the only active
ingredients in an antacid, but are combined with aluminum, which
counteracts the laxative effect. (The brand names listed above all
contain magnesium-aluminum combinations.) Like calcium,
magnesium may cause kidney stones if taken for a prolonged period,
 especially if the kidneys are functioning improperly to begin with. A
serious magnesium overload in the bloodstream
(hypermagnesaemia) can also cause blood pressure to drop, leading
to respiratory or cardiac depression -- a potentially dangerous
decrease in lung or heart function.

 Aluminum Antacids (Rolaids, ALternaGEL, Amphojel and

Others): Salts of aluminum (hydroxide, carbonate gel, or phosphate
gel) can also cause constipation. For these reasons, aluminum is
usually used in combination with the other three primary ingredients.
Used heavily over an extended period, antacids containing aluminum
can weaken bones, especially in people who have kidney problems.
Aluminum can cause dietary phosphates, calcium, and fluoride to
leave the body, eventually causing bone problems such as
osteomalacia or osteoporosis.
Side effects

 Calcium: Excess calcium from supplements, fortified food and high-

calcium diets, can cause milk-alkali syndrome, which has serious
toxicity and can be fatal.

 Carbonate: Regular high doses may cause alkalosis, which in turn

may result in altered excretion of other drugs, and kidney stones. A
chemical reaction between the carbonate and hydrochloric acid may
produce carbon dioxide gas. This causes gastric distension which
may not be well tolerated. Carbon dioxide formation can also lead to
headaches and decreased muscle flexibility.

 Aluminum hydroxide: May lead to the formation of insoluble

aluminum-phosphate-complexes, with a risk for hypophosphatemia
and osteomalacia. Although aluminum has a low gastrointestinal
absorption, accumulation may occur mainly in the presence of renal
 insufficiency. Aluminum-containing drugs often cause constipation
and are neurotoxic.

 Magnesium hydroxide: Has laxative properties. Magnesium may

accumulate in patients with renal failure leading
to hypermagnesaemia, with cardiovascular and neurological
complications.

 Sodium: increased intake of sodium may be deleterious for arterial

hypertension, heart failure and many renal diseases.

 Heartburn, reflux, indigestion, and sour stomach are a few of the

common terms used to describe digestive upset. Self-diagnosis of
indigestion does carry some risk because the causes can vary from a
minor dietary indiscretion to a peptic ulcer.

 The pain and symptoms of GERD or simply "reflux", may mimic

those of a heart attack. Misdiagnosis can be fatal. A bleeding ulcer
can be life threatening.

 GERD and pre-ulcerative conditions in the stomach are treated

much more aggressively since both, if untreated, could lead to
esophageal or stomach cancer.

 It is primarily for this reason that the H2 blockers including

cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), and ranitidine (Zantac),
and the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) omeprazole (Prilosec) were
made OTC.
  These drugs stop production of stomach acid and provide longer
lasting relief but they do not neutralize any stomach acid already
present in the stomach.

Problems with reduced stomach acidity

 Reduced stomach acidity may result in an impaired ability to digest

and absorb certain nutrients, such as iron and the B vitamins. Since
the low pH of the stomach normally kills ingested bacteria, antacids
increase the vulnerability to infection. It could also result in the
reduced bioavailability of some drugs. For example, the
bioavailability of ketocanazole (anti-fungal) is reduced at high
intragastric pH (low acid content).

Over usage of antacids naturally have side-effects. As with anything in life,

it must be used in moderation. The following flowchart elucidates very
clearly.
 II. OBJECTIVE

This project aims at analyzing some of the commercial antacids to

determine which one of them is the most effective by conducting
a quantitative analysis.

Motives behind selecting this research project:

 Consumerism, in the era of global industrialization, plays a

very important role. There are various product options
available for consumers to choose from. Different
manufacturers selling their products, attempting to sway
public opinion in their favor, marketing their products
regardless of their effectiveness in functionality. Hence it
becomes the consumer’s right to experiment and know the
most effective, efficient, and value for money product. There
are various methods to conclude that a product out of all the
given competitors is the best. Experimental research is the
most rational and convincing one of those methods. The result
of this analysis could be used to inform oneself as to which
antacid is the best and provides best relief.

 Apart from the economic perspective, the titrations that are

conducted as a part of this experiment is in itself an attracting
aspect. The prospect of making color changing solutions, the
thrill of chemical reactions, and conducting them with
accuracy is probably the most interesting part of titrations and
the whole project.
 III. THEORY

Antacids react with excess stomach acid by neutralization.

i.e. HCl + Na OH → H2O + NaCl

During the process, hydrogen ions H+ from the acid (proton donor) or a

hydronium ion H3O+ and hydroxide ions OH Θ from the base (proton

acceptor) react together to form a water molecule H2O. In the process, a

salt is also formed when the anion from acid and the cation from base react

together. Neutralization reactions are generally classified as exothermic

since heat is released into the surroundings.

Acids are proton donors which convert into conjugated bases. They are

generally pure substances which contain hydrogen ions (H+) or cause them

to be produced in solutions. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sulfuric acid

(H2SO4) are common examples. In water, these break apart into ions:

HCl → H+(aq) + ClΘ(aq) OR

H2SO4 → H+(aq) + HSO4Θ(aq)

Bases are proton acceptors which convert into conjugated acids. They are

generally substances which contain hydroxide ion (OHΘ) or produce it in

Determination of concentrations of substances in neutralization:

The experimental method about neutralization is the acid-base titration. An

acid- base titration is a method that allows quantitative analysis of the

concentration of an unknown acid or base solution. It makes use of the

neutralization reaction that occurs between acids and bases, and that we

know how acids and bases will react if we know their formula.

Before starting the titration a suitable pH indicator must be chosen. In this

project, phenolphthalein is chosen. The endpoint of the reaction, the point

at which all the reactants have reacted, will have a pH dependent on the

relative strengths of the acid and base used. The pH of the endpoint can be

estimated using the following rules:

• A strong acid will react with a strong base to form a neutral (pH=7)

solution.

• A strong acid will react with a weak base to form an acidic (pH<7)

solution.
• A weak acid will react with a strong base to form a basic (pH>7) solution.

Phenolphthalein is used to determine the end point of the titration which

indicates complete neutralization. In the presence of, an acid solution is

colorless, a basic solution is very dark pink, and a neutral solution is very

pale pink. At this point the solution is very slightly basic, with a negligible

amount of excess NaOH. By keeping track of exactly how much NaOH is

needed to complete the neutralization process, the amount of HCl

originally neutralized by the antacid can be calculated. The difference

between the number of moles of HCl initially added to the antacid and the

number of moles of HCl neutralized by the NaOH during the titration is the

number of moles neutralized by the antacid. Several antacids will be tested

and the relative strengths of each will be compared.

Nature of phenolphthalein:

Phenolphthalein is a chemical compound with the formula C20 H14 O4. It is

insoluble in water, and is usually dissolved in alcohols for use in

experiments. It is itself a weak acid, which can lose H+ ions in solution.

The phenolphthalein molecule is colorless. However, the phenolphthalein

ion is pink. When a base is added to the phenolphthalein, the molecule⇌

ions equilibrium shifts to the right, leading to more ionization as H+ ions

are removed. This is predicted by Le Chatelier’s principle.

HYPOTHESIS

Our hypothesis is that the greater proportion of the active ingredient

with stronger base in an antacid tablet will have the greater

neutralizing power. And thus, it will be more effective to cure upset

stomach.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
The following were the materials required for the project:

1. Burette (50ml)
2. Pipette (20ml)
3. Conical Flasks (250ml)
4. Measuring Cylinder (10ml)
5. Beakers (100ml)
6. Standard Flasks (100ml)
7. Filter Paper
8. Funnel
9. Bunsen Burner
10.Weighing machine
11.Clean & glazed white tile
12.Glass Rod
13.Water
14.Crusher

b. Chemicals:
4. Four different brands
of antacids
1. Na OH powder
5. Phenolphthalein
2. Na2CO3 powder 6. Methyl Orange
3. 10M conc. H Cl acid

V. PROCEDURE

1. First prepare approximately 1 litre of approximately N/10 solution of

HCl by diluting 10 ml of the given 10M HCl acid to 1 litre.
2. Next prepare 1 liter of approx. N/10 NaOH solution by dissolving
4.0g of NaOH powder to make 1litre of solution.

3. Similarly
prepare
N/10Na2C
O3solution
by weighing
exactly
1.325g of
anhydrous
Na2CO3
and then
dissolving it
in water to
prepare
exactly
0.25L or
250ml of
Na2CO3
solution.
4. Now,standardize the HCl solution by titrating it against the standard
Na2CO3 solution using methyl orange as indicator.

Burette:0.1N HCl
Flask:
0.1N Na2CO3 + Methyl Orange

5. Similarly standardize the Na OH solution by titrating it against

standardized HCl solution using phenolphthalein as indicator. Stop the
titration when the pink color of the solution
disappears.

Burette: 0.1N HCl

Flask: 0.1N Na OH+

Phenolphthalein

6. Now, powder the four antacid samples

and weigh 0.5g of each.
7. Add 25ml of the standardized hydrochloric acid to each of the weighed
samples taken in conical flasks. Make sure that the acid is in slight excess so
that it neutralizes all the basic character of the tablet powder.

8. Add a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator and warm the flask over a
Bunsen burner till most of the powder dissolves

9. Filter the insoluble material.

10. Titrate this solution against the

standardized NaOH solution, till a
permanent pinkish tinge is obtained.

11. Repeat the same experiment for

all other samples too.
 VI. PRECAUTIONS

1. Avoid touching the antacid with your fingers.

2. Be careful not to lose any solid when crushing the antacid tablet.

3. Avoid touching hot surfaces when working near the hot plate and be

cautious when transporting heated solutions.

4. The hot plate should not be left unattended.

5. Dilute HCl and NaOH were corrosive and can damage your eyes and

cause skin irritation.

6. The burette must be rinsed out with NaOH before use to prevent

dilution of the solution.

7. It should be made sure that there were no air bubbles in the burette

tips.

8. Burette readings should be recorded to the nearest 0.05 cm3.

9. Sodium hydroxide should be removed from the burette as soon as

possible after the titration. It was because NaOH is corrosive and it

 reacted with carbon dioxide in the air to form sodium carbonate which

was a white solid and clogged the tip of the burette easily.

10.Rinse all apparatus thoroughly using Distilled water. Any residual

chemicals could cause variations in pH readings.

11.Tap on the weighing machine after it shows required value to confirm

a precise reading

12.Pipette out the solutions carefully as it is possible to accidentally ingest

the solution.

VII. OBSERVATIONS

 Standardization of HCl solution:

Volume of 0.1N Na2CO3 taken = 20 ml

Indicator used = Methyl Orange

SERIAL BURETTE READINGS VOLUME OF

No. INITIAL READING FINAL READING ACID USED
(ml)
1. 0 17 17
2. 18 35 17

Applying normality equation,

 N1 V1 = N2 V2
(acid) (base)

N1 x 17 = 0.1 x 20
Normality of HCl, N1= 2/17 = 0.11 ≈ 0.1

 Standardization of Na OH Solution:

Volume of the given Na OH solution taken = 20.0 ml

Indicator used = Phenolphthalein

SERIAL BURETTE READINGS VOLUME OF

No. INITIAL READING FINAL READING ACID USED
(ml)
1. 0 16 16
2. 17 33 16

Volume of acid used = 16 ml

Applying normality equation,

N1 V’1 = N’2 V’2
(acid) (base)
0.11 x 16 = N’2 x 20

Normality of HCl, N’2 = (0.11*16)/20 = 0.09 ≈ 0.1

 Analysis of antacid tablets:

 Weight of the antacid tablet powder = 0.5 g
 Volume of HCl solution added = 30 ml
 Volume of sample solution taken = 20 ml

VOLUME OF (Na OH) USED

ANTACID
FOR NEUTRALIZING
UNUSED (HCL)

1. Eno Lemon 23

2. Digene Lime 10

3. Gelusil 22

4. Eno Cola 29

5. Omez 21
 RESULT

 1 g of Eno Lemon required 23 ml of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

solution to titrate it completely.
 1 g of Digene lime required 10 ml of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to
titrate it.
 1 g of Gelusil required 22 ml of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to titrate it
completely.
 1 g of Eno Cola required 29 ml of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to
titrate it.

 1 g of Omez required 21 ml of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to titrate it.

Based on the hypothesis of the experiment, the antacid which requires the
least amount of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) is the best antacid. From the
recorded observation, Digene© requires the least (5 ml), and is therefore the
best Antacid.

IX. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Antacids play a very important role in relieving many patients suffering from
gastric hyper acidity, commonly referred to as gastritis. This project was
undertaken to analyze the best commercially available antacid according to
the amount of hydrochloric acid they could neutralize.
We started our project by powdering the various antacid samples and making
sure that the apparatus were clean. Later we standardized various solutions
and prepared N/10 HCl solution and N/10 NaOH solution. This was done by
titrating various solutions and using the respective indicators.
The powdered antacid samples weighing 1 gram each was each added to 30
ml of the standardized solution of HCl in separate conical flasks. These
solutions were later titrated with the standardized NaOH and the readings
were noted. These readings were helpful in deciding the amount of HCl that
each antacid could neutralize.
Various antacids could neutralize a specific amount of the acid. pephyrous
was the poorest among all antacids. Eno pineapple had a slightly higher
alkaline nature while Eno lemon and Omez proved to neutralize to same
amount . Gelusil had a higher concentration of the base. Digene had the
highest basic character!
Thus, on the basis of the experiment conducted, it was adjudged that Digene
was the best commercially available antacid.

X.BIBLIOGRAPHY

Websites:
• http://www.images.google.com
• http://www.wikipedia.com
• http://www.pharmaceutical-drug-manufacturers.com

Books

 Comprehensive Practical Chemistry Class XII