Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets
Toby Huang
Mr. Hall
SCH4U0
January 22, 2011
Purpose:
Antacid tablets consist of weakly basic substances that are capable of reacting with the
hydrochloric acid found in the stomach, converting the stomach acid into neutral or nearly
neutral salts. In this experiment, you will determine the amount of stomach acid that two
commonly used antacids are capable of neutralizing.
Materials & Procedure:
See lab handout.
Results:
Tums
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
Mass of tablet used 0.90 g 1.26 g 1.15 g
Volume of 0.1 M HCl used 100 mL 100 mL 100 mL
mL of 0.1 M NaOH used 48.3 mL 22.0 mL 40.0 mL
Mass of HCl consumed per gram 54.5 g 61.0 g 50.3 g
Mean mass of HCl consumed per gram of tablet 55.3 g
Rolaid
Mass of tablet used 1.67 g 1.75 g 1.77 g
Volume of 0.1 M HCl used 100 mL 100 mL 100 mL
mL of 0.1 M NaOH used 22.3 mL 10.5 mL 11.7 mL
Mass of HCl consumed per gram 45.8 g 50.8 g 49.5 g
Mean mass of HCl consumed per gram of tablet 48.7 g
Alka-Seltzer
Mass of tablet used 3.22 g 3.25 g 3.05 g
Volume of 0.1 M HCl used 100 mL 100 mL 100 mL
mL of 0.1 M NaOH used 47.7 mL 39.9 mL 47.5 mL
Mass of HCl consumed per gram 15.4 g 17.8 g 16.4 g
Mean mass of HCl consumed per gram of tablet 16.5 g
Sodium bicarbonate
Mass of tablet used 1.0 g 1.0 g 0.50 g
Volume of 0.1 M HCl used 100 mL 100 mL 100 mL
mL of 0.1 M NaOH used 21.1 mL 27.3 mL 57.8 mL
Mass of HCl consumed per gram 77.7 g 71.2 g 78.1 g
Mean mass of HCl consumed per gram of tablet 75.7 g
Sample calculation:
For Tums sample 1:
The equation of the titration reaction is:
In order to calculate the number of millimoles of HCl consumed by the antacid we must subtract
the number of millimoles left over after the antacid has done its work from the original number
of millimoles of HCl.
Find the total number of millimoles of HCl originally present.
Find millimoles of NaOH used in titration.
Since 1 millimole of HCl is consumed per millimole of NaOH, the number of millimoles of HCl
remaining after the antacid has done its work is also 5.6028 mmol.
The number of millimoles of HCl consumed by the antacid is:
To convert millimoles of HCl to volume, divide the number of millimoles of HCl by the molarity
of the HCl.
Since the density of HCl is 1.00 g/mL, the volume of HCl equals the number of grams of HCl.
Therfore, 49.1 mL of HCl = 49.1 g of HCl.
Find the mass of HCl consumed per gram of antacid.
Questions:
1. Which of the four antacids tested consumed more HCl per gram? Which consumed
more HCl per tablet? If the prices of the antacids are available, which antacid is a
better buy?
Of the antacids, Tums consumed the most HCl per gram, with 55.3 g of HCl
consumed per gram of tablet. However, sodium bicarbonate consumed the most HCl per
gram, with 75.7 g of HCl consumed per gram of sodium bicarbonate. The grams of HCl
consumed per tablet are as follows:
Brand Grams of HCl consumed per tablet
Tums 61.0 g
Rolaids 84.3 g
Alka-Seltzer 52.4 g
Therefore, Rolaids consume the most HCl per tablet.
To find the best buy, we must first calculate the price per gram of each brand.
This is done by dividing the price by the number of tablets, then dividing this quotient by
the average number of grams per tablet. Then the number of grams of HCl neutralized for
each cent paid is calculated.
Brand Cost in cents per gram of Grams of HCl neutralized per cent
tablet paid
Tums 3.35 16.5
Rolaids 3.17 15.4
Alka-Seltzer 6.56 2.52
Sodium 1.14 66.4
bicarbonate
Since Tums neutralizes the most HCl per cent paid, Tums is the best buy of the
antacids. Sodium bicarbonate consumes much more HCl per cent paid than any antacid,
and it is the most cost effective option. Alka-Seltzer is the worst option because it costs
the least amount of HCl per cent paid.
2. Generally, the substances used as antacids are either weak bases or very insoluble
bases, why is a strong soluble base like NaOH not used in antacid tablets?
A strong base like NaOH is caustic and would destroy the lining of the mouth and
the esophagus when swallowed. Therefore, strong bases are not safe to consume directly.
Also, even a small amount of a strong base would neutralize too much stomach acid and
cause the stomach’s pH to increase beyond the normal range. A strong base would react
too quickly, and the stomach would resume producing acid soon after.
A weak base provides relief over a greater period of time because the
neutralization reaction is slower. Also, a weak base doesn’t cause drastic pH changes in
the stomach. Insoluble bases are not absorbed by the bowel, preventing side effects.
3. Read the labels on the commercial antacid tablets you used. List the brand names
and the active antacid ingredients.
Brand Active ingredients
Tums Calcium carbonate (base)
Rolaid Calcium carbonate (base)
Magnesium hydroxide (base)
Simethicone (antigas)
Alka-Seltzer Sodium bicarbonate (base)
Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
Citric acid
4. Some people overuse antacids. Consult a chemical encyclopedia to find out what
side effects may occur when antacids are used too frequently.
Side effects of taking too many antacid tablets include disturbances of the gut such as
nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Other side effects include changes in liver function or
constipation. Antacid tablets can cause allergic reactions such as skin rash, swelling of the
lips, tongue and throat or narrowing of the airways. These allergic reactions occur when the
internal lining of the digestive tract is irritated by the base in antacids. Overusing certain
antacids containing magnesium, such as Rolaids, leads to chronic diarrhoea and dehydration.
Normal stomach pH ranges from 1.0 to 2.0. Consuming too many antacids can cause the
stomach pH to increase beyond the normal range. If the concentration of HCl in the stomach
is too low, food would be undigested. This situation can lead to the “acid rebound” effect: the
stomach secretes excess acid to compensate, potentially leading to stomach or duodenal
ulcers. Excess HCl can also lead to bleeding from the stomach or intestines.
Using sodium bicarbonate as an antacid has certain drawbacks. Sodium bicarbonate
releases sodium ions in solution, which can disrupt the levels of sodium ions in the
bloodstream. Sodium bicarbonate can cause an excess of carbon dioxide gas to build up in
the stomach. This gas pressure can cause damage in rare cases.
Sources of Error:
One of the sources of error was the difficulty of judging when the solution turns green.
This was a significant error because many extra millilitres of NaOH could be added while the
solution would still be considered green. This was a random error because it was caused by
variations in judgement. This problem could have been reduced by adhering to a specific shade
of green and taking the average of many trials. If the experimenter used a pH meter instead of an
indicator, the end point could be determined more precisely.
A second source of error was the approximation of the concentrations of the HCl and the
NaOH solution. The concentration of HCl could be more or less than 0.110 M, while the
concentration of NaOH could be more or less than 0.116 M. This was a systematic error because
the same concentrations were used for all calculations. This error could be fixed by using a
purchased solution of known concentration or a pH meter to determine a more accurate
concentration.
Another source of error was the variations in gauging the volume of the titrant in the
pipette. The experimenter might have been viewing the markings from a slanted angle or have
had difficulty estimating the significant digits of the volume of titrant. The recorded values could
be off by a few millimetres. The exact volume was difficult to determine due to the meniscus
curve. Since the experimenter always read the bottom of the meniscus curve, there was a small
amount of titrant above the curve that was not considered. This was a random error because it
was caused by errors in human judgement. This error could be fixed by levelling the eyes with
the markings.
The mass of the tablet used in each trial was actually less than the mass recorded. This
was because some of the powdered tablet stuck to the measuring cup or the sides of the flask.
The residue didn’t participate in the neutralization reaction. Therefore, the amount of HCl
neutralized was less than the proper amount, and the antacid would appear less effective. This
error was systematic because some tablet particles stuck to surfaces in every trial. The problem
could be fixed by massing the combined flask and powdered tablet.
When the experimenter added HCl to the flask using a graduated cylinder, some of the
HCl stuck to the sides of the cylinder. The actual number of moles of HCl in the flask was less
than the recorded value. The antacid would appear to be more effective than it actually is. This
was a systematic error because some HCl stuck to the sides of the cylinder in every trial.
The experimenter must swirl the flask to let the tablet react with HCl. The problem was,
sometimes the experimenter might have not swirled the solution adequately, leaving some
amount of tablet unreacted. This means that less HCl was neutralized than the proper amount.
The antacid would appear to be less effective than it actually is. This error was random because
its significance depends on how thoroughly the experimenter swirled the flask. This error could
be fixed by ensuring the tablet particles were mixed thoroughly with the HCl solution.
The antacids can take up to 15 minutes to react completely with the HCl. If the tablets
weren’t crushed properly, the larger particles could take even longer to dissolve. The
experimenter could have finished titrating before the antacid fully reacted. If the reaction went to
completion, more HCl would have been neutralized. If the reaction was not allowed to reach
completion, the antacid would appear to be less effective. This error is significant because most
titrations took much less time than 15 minutes. This error was random because it depended on
how much time the reaction requires and how long the experimenter took to titrate. This error
can be fixed by allowing the tablet to react fully before titrating.
