Stomachaide Company - Antacid Tablet

Objective

StomachAide is a new company and is hoping to breach the market with their new antacid tablet. We will standardize a solution of base using titration. The standardized solution will then be used to determine the acid neutralizing power of the tablet created by StomachAide and compare the effectiveness and value to that of a brand already being produced.

Background Information

Stomach antacid as referred to by Reference.com is a chemical compound that neutralizes the excessive acidity in the stomach and causes the pH to return to normal levels. Specialized cells in the stomach produce hydrochloric acid, which is used to facilitate digestion and enhance the action of digestive enzymes, especially pepsin. Without hydrochloric acid, a proper acid environment needed for digestion and processing of proteins would not be created. Additionally, hydrochloric acid is necessary to activate pepsin, an enzyme which is the main protein-digesting substance in the stomach. Moreover, an acid environment, which creates a lower pH, is needed to protect the stomach from excessive harmful bacterial growth. However, when there is too much hydrochloric acid and the pH falls too much, it becomes dangerous for the stomach mucosa. The nerves within the stomach wall are irritated by the excessive acidity, and then signal to the central nervous system that there is a problem, which translates into pain and heartburn symptoms. Sometimes, excessive acidity is implicated in development of gastritis and stomach ulcers. However, antacids are not used as a main treatment for these diseases, but only to temporarily relieve symptoms of heartburn and acid indigestion. Comprehensive treatment of stomach ulcers include proton pump inhibitors, which prevent the acid from being produced, rather than neutralize it; and histamine receptors inhibitors. Also bacteria named Helicobater pylori are implicated, and should be inhibited through antibiotic treatment. Antacids are used to address short-term symptoms of excessive acidity. Some of the chemical compounds that can be part of antacid medication are sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. Antacids were abandoned as a long-term treatment for excessive acidity due to their side effects and brutal acidity-lowering effect, which can results in pH being too high. If one was to study the chemical reactions of antacids in a lab, they would observe the following reactions: 2HCl + CaCO3 -> CaCl2 + H2O + CO2 HCl + NaOH -> NaCl + H2O 2HCl + Mg(OH)2 -> MgCl2 + H2O.

Titration as defined by Wikipedia is a common laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis that is used to determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte. Because volume measurements play a key role in titration, it is also known as volumetric analysis. A reagent is prepared as a solution.