CHEMISTRY AND LIFE

Antacids
The stomach secretes HCL, but holes can develop in the lining that allow the acid to attack the
underlying tissue. these lesions, called ulcers, frequently bleed and are often quite painful. oer the
years, ulcers have been treated by preparations called antacids, basic compounds that neutralize the
stomach acid. antacids are also widely used to treat heartburn, a condition in which stomach acid
gets up into the esophagus, which has no protective lining. the antacid neutralizes the acid and
relieves the burning sensation.
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SNYDER, CARL H. THE EXTRAORDINARY CHEMISTRY OF ORDINARY THINGS (4
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EDITION) , THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: JOHN WILEY & SONS INC.
our body tissues and organs, including the walls of the stomach itself, are made of protein. the
enzymes of the stomach fluids that help digest protein cant discriminate between the protein of
food and the protein of the stomach walls. they would digest the stomach itself as easily as a steak if
it werent for special protective devices such as an alkaline mucous lining that resists the action of
the stomachs acid and its enzymes. when the bodys defenses fail, a combination of stomach acid
and pepsin (and certain bacteria) can attack the stomach wall in an act of chemical cannibalism. the
result is a gastric ulcer.
relief from the discomforts can often be obtained from antacids, or simply some baking soda in
water. the antacids function isnt to bring the stomach fluids to a complete acid-base neutrality of
pH 7. such an action would shut down digestion completely and could shock the walls into flooding
the stomach with fresh acid in whats called acid-rebound. instead, a good antacid neutralizes
enough of the HCl in the gastric juices to alleviate the pain and discomfort yet allows normal
stomach action to proceed. even if as much as 90% of the stomachs HCl were to be neutralized, the
pH would still be a healthy 2.3
sodium bicarbonate is widely used in antacids, providing an inexpensive combination of safety,
effectiveness and efficiency. on reaction with HCl, the sodium bicarbonate forms carbonic acid,
which is a much weaker acid than HCl and which decomposes readily (and reversibly) to carbon
dioxide and water: NaHCO3 + HCl -> NaCl + H2CO3 ( arbonic acid)
H2CO3 (reversible arrow) CO2 + H20
MYERS, RICHARD L. (2007) THE 100 MOST IMPORTANT CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS: A REFERENCE
GUIDE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: GREENWOOD PRESS
sodium bicarbonate made synthetically by the reaction of sodium carbonate solution with carbon
dioxide. Na2CO3 + h20 + CO2 -> 2NaHCO3. it can also be produced using the Solvay process.
it is an amphoteric substances which gives baking soda a buffering capacity and the ability to
neutralize both acids and bases. food odors resulting from acidic or basic compounds can be
neutralized with baking soda into an odor-free salt.