What are the pH changes in the stomach before and after taking an antacid tablet?
Answer (3)
Before it's 2 and after 20
The pH of the stomach, normally 1-2 due to gastric acid (mainly HCl), is increased after taking an antacid tablet, as the active ingredients neutralize the acid.
The pH of the stomach is highly acidic, typically around 1-2, due to the presence of gastric acid, which is mainly composed of hydrochloric acid (HCl). When a person consumes an antacid tablet, the antacid's active ingredients neutralize some of the stomach acid, raising the pH level to a less acidic range.
Antacids work by a mechanism of neutralizing stomach acid through a chemical reaction. For example, if an antacid contains a substance with the formula B(OH)2, where B is a dipositive metal ion, it will react with HCl in the stomach as follows:
B(OH)2 + 2 HCl → BCl2 + 2 H2O
This reaction leads to the formation of water and a salt, thus reducing the concentration of H+ ions in the stomach and increasing the pH. The efficacy of different antacids can vary depending on their active ingredients and formulations.
Before taking an antacid, the stomach's pH is between 1 and 2, due to hydrochloric acid. After taking an antacid tablet, the pH increases as the antacid neutralizes the acid, resulting in a higher pH, typically between 3 and 7. The process involves a chemical reaction where the antacid neutralizes stomach acid, creating water and carbon dioxide.
;
