Aim:

The aim of this experiment is to get to know which of the three indigestion tablets neutralize the
best the acid which means to get the closest to neutral. The three tablets are the Gaviscon,
Maalox and the Rennies. During this experiment, the independent variable was that we were
changing the indigestion tablets around and trying them each 3 times to get an average on
which ones would get the closest neutralized. The dependent variable is the time as we wanted
to know at 4 minutes and 30 seconds which pH color on the scale would it be if it is a 3-4 it is
not quite good and if it is rather a 5-6 it is way better as it means it neutralized it.

Background Research:

In the Rennies there are different ingredients which are alkalosis, calcium carbonate and
magnesium carbonate. They only act when they arrive in the stomach and will do their best to
get the acid in your stomach neutralized.
The Maalox is an indigestion tablet that has the following ingredients: ​aluminum hydroxide,
magnesium hydroxide and simethicone. They work for heartburn,acid indigestion and react
against the acids with the alkalis in the ingredients.
In the Gaviscon tablets there is the alginic acid ingredient which is made out of seaweed. It
reacts by creating a protective layer that floats on the acid in your stomach and keeps the acid
in one place for it not to escape and go in the food pipes.

Hypothesis:

In my opinion I think that the Rennies are going to neutralize more acid than the others as we
only need to take 1 to 2 which is less than in the Gaviscon. It is also more compact than the
Maalox as it is lighter. It means that it is small but it is not weak at all.

Variables

Independent variable (what we change). Dependant variable (what we measure).

The objects changed were the 3 different
indigestion tablets which were the Gaviscon,
Maalox and Rennies. We tried them each 3
times in the acid to get an average of the pH
scale.
What we measured was the time at 4 minutes
and 30 seconds we stopped and looked at
which pH it was.

Controlled variable (what we kept the same).

We always kept those the same:

● Mass balance.
 ● Paper on the mass balance.

● Beaker.

● Measuring cylinder.

● Mortar and pestle to keep the crushed parts of the indigestion tablet.

● How much acid (hydrochloric acid) we used (10 millilitres).

● How much grams we used per indigestion tablets (0.5 grams).

● How many universal indicator solutions we put each time (10 drops).

How did we keep them the same and why?

We kept them the same for these objects and substances not to affect anything in the
experiment for example if there was a problem with the mass balance like a
dysfonctionnement or if it was broken but would still work well it would affect every time the
experiment and it would mean that it was like that all the time and it also affects every object
that used that same mass balance like indigestion tablets put in powder and then measured in
grams on the mass balance. This was to keep the experiment a fair test.
If there was a problem we also repeated the experiment 3 times which makes it better and
controlled. This would be the same for the acid as if there were 5 milliliters more the
indigestion tablet would not make it change as much as the other one and it would get a
smaller and more acid number.

Method:

List of apparatus:

For this experiment we used:

1. Mass balance. 1 mass balance was used.

2. Hydrochloric acid. 90 milliliters of hydrochloric acid.
3. Indicator solution. 90 drops of indicator solution.
4. Pipette. 1 pipette.
5. Beaker. 1 capable of getting 50 milliliters of anything.
6. Measuring cylinder. 1 measuring cylinder capable only to keep 10 millilitres of anything.
 7. Mortar and pestle. 1 of each.
8. Water. 1 do not know the contitie as it was not told to be specified.
9. Indigestion tablets (Rennies, Gaviscon, Maalox). 1.5 grams each. Total about 6.
10. Paper towel. 1 to put on the mass balance and others to dry the objects like the beaker...
11. A piece of paper to take notes on our experiment. 1 piece of paper.
12. A pen to write on the piece of paper. 1 pen.

Diagram of experiment:

Steps and Safety precautions to take:

1. Step one is to make sure that you have your safety goggles and if you want a lab jacket
and or some gloves. All chairs and bags should also be under the tables for no one to
 trip on them as it may be dangerous and they can hurt themselves. Coats should be
hanging on a coat hanger
2. Then get out the materials which you can find if you read my list of apparatus
they will be needed for this experiment.
3. Get your measuring cylinder and pour 10 ml of acid into it.
4. Put in your beaker 10 drops of universal indicator solution.
5. Crunch an indigestion tablet and measure 0.5 grams of it on the mass balance covered
with a paper for bits and pieces not to get everywhere.
6. Pour the acid into the beaker containing the 10 drops of universal indicator solution and
add with all of that the indigestion tablet which was crunch and measured at 0.5 grams.
7. Start the timer when the 0.5 grams of the indigestion tablets is put in totally.
8. At 1 minute 30 seconds mix it until 1 minute 50 seconds.
9. At 2 minutes and 30 seconds do the same until 2 minutes and 50 seconds.
10. And repeat it over and over again until you get to 4 minutes and 30 seconds where you
stop mixing.
11. You will then try your best to determine which pH it is and record it in your table.
12. You will be then repeating these steps 3 times for each of the 3 indigestion tablets.

Observations made during this experiment.

During this experiment we could definitely see how the Rennies neutralised more the acid than
any of the other indigestion tablets. The pH at the end of the experiment was lower in acidity in
the Rennies. In the 3 indigestion tablets, we could identify some small bubbles going up at the
surface. For the Rennies I could see that there was a layer that was covering the acid. There
was a smell in the 3 indigestion tablets which I could not define but it was kind of strong.

Table to show after 4 minutes and 30 seconds at which pH all of the 3 different indigestion
tablets will be at.

Which pH will Tries Gaviscon Maalox Rennies

it arrive to 1 pH 4 pH 5 pH 6

after 2 pH 4 pH 4 pH 6

4 minutes 3 pH 4 pH 4 pH 6

and 30 seconds. Average pH 4 pH 4.3 pH 6

The formula to calculate the average of the pH is that you take the 3 pH you got for an
indigestion tablet and divide it by the number of tries.
Graph to show after 4 minutes and 30 seconds at which pH will all the 3 indigestion tablets be at
in average.

Conclusion:

In conclusion we can see with the data in the table and also shown in the graph that my
hypothesis is correct. I supposed that the one that would get the acid more neutralized than for
the others would be the Rennies. That happened as the Rennies just tried their best to get the
acid neutral directly. It does not mean that it is the best as the Gaviscon is also used to get
heartburn or stomach acid stopped but in a slightly different way. It covers the acid for it not to
get into your stomach food pipes. Maalox is like the Rennies as they act the same even though
they do not have the same effect on the acid. Maalox is a bit bigger also which means less
compact and therefore less direct.
Evaluation:

I think that the findings of the experiment can be trusted as we repeated it 3 times. I think it is
quite reliable but there are never enough tries done. The independent variable were the
indigestion tablets but only 3 were there and we could have done that with 4 indigestion tablets
as it could be better and more suitable. The experiment was valuable but we could have made it
more accurate by getting a pH scale which shows the decimals colors each time or all to
decimals points.

Problems. Solutions.

1. When I made an average with my 1. We could have tried to find another

data it was not an accurate
representation of the pH color. As the
pH scale color was not that precise.
2. We could have got a better average.
3. Having another indigestion tablet.
pH scale that would have decimal
numbers between 1 to 14.
2. Getting a better average by repeating
multiple times.
3. Get another indigestion tablet to have
a larger understanding of the
experiment.

Bibliography:

1. “Draw Lab Diagrams. Simply.” ​Chemix,​ chemix.org/.

2. Ghelani, Rita. “Rennie Peppermint/Spearmint/Ice.” ​Netdoctor,​ Netdoctor, 9 Oct. 2019,
www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/digestion/a7457/rennie-peppermint-spearmint-ice-tablet
s/.
3. NHS Choices​, NHS, www.nhs.uk/medicines/gaviscon/.
4. Staff, News. “FDA Warns About Mix-Ups With Maalox Products.” ​AAFP Home​, 23 Feb.
2010, www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20100223maalox.html.