55 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets

ACID-NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY OF ANTACID TABLETS

The stomach’s acidic interior is generated by "stomach acid" (essentially 0.1 M

hydrochloric acid). This acid is necessary for digestion but too much stomach acid can
cause discomfort. One way of relieving excess acidity in the stomach is to neutralize
some of the acid with a weak base or "antacid". Most antacids contain some kind of
carbonate (for example, NaHCO3 or CaCO3) that react with strong acid to make
carbonic acid, H2CO3, which then dissociates to water and carbon dioxide gas:

H2CO3 (aq) ––––> H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

Many commercial preparations are available in tablet form. These tablets generally
contain binders and flavouring agents in addition to the weak base, so we cannot just
assume that a bigger tablet is more effective. Instead, we can determine the exact
number of moles of base in a tablet by reacting it with acid; this will be the tablet’s acid
neutralizing capacity (ANC).

Instead of titrating the antacid directly with an acid, you will employ back-titration:
adding a known excess of acid to the tablets and then titrating the excess acid carefully
with a standard solution of strong base. There are two good reasons for this procedure:
1) most antacid tablets dissolve very slowly in water but much faster in acids (since
they react as they dissolve), and 2) carbon dioxide from the air and from the breath
dissolves in water and acts as an acid (reacting immediately to neutralize any basic
solution - thus it is best to avoid leaving basic solutions standing in the air for long
periods of time).

Dilutions
You will need to know how to accurately dilute stock solutions to obtain solutions of
desired concentration. You must realize when you are diluting a solution that the
actual amount of solute is constant. Therefore, the number of moles of solute remain
unchanged.

Water
Initial moles = final moles
before dilution after dilution

initial molarity x initial volume = final molarity x final volume

M i x Vi = Mf x Vf
 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets 56

Procedure
This is an individual lab. In preparation for this procedure, read Appendix C for
directions on the proper use of a pipet. Also, ensure that you have recorded the average
molarity of your previously standardized 0.1 M NaOH on page 40 before submitting
your oxalic acid report.

(A) Standardization of the Stock HCl Solution

Pipet a 10.00 mL aliquot of ~ 1 M stock HCl solution into a clean 100.0 mL
volumetric flask. Dilute to the mark with distilled water, cap, and mix the
solution thoroughly. Pipet 25.00 mL of this dilute HCl from the volumetric flask
into a clean Erlenmeyer flask. Add 3-5 drops of phenolphthalein indicator and
titrate with your previously standardized 0.1 M NaOH. Record the exact volume
of 0.1 M NaOH used to reach the endpoint. Repeat the titration twice more.

(B) Titration of the Remaining Excess HCl Solution

Pipet 25.00 mL of ~ 1 M stock HCl solution into a clean, dry 100 mL beaker.
Place the recommended dosage of antacid tablets in the HCl solution, being very
careful not to splash the acid out of the beaker. The tablets may be difficult to
dissolve so take a glass stirring rod and carefully break them up. There are often
ingredients in these tablets that will not dissolve in acid or water so do not be
surprised if there are still some finely divided particles left. Once you are certain
the tablets have dissolved as much as they are going to (the bubbling will have
stopped), pipet 10.00 mL of this antacid-HCl solution into a clean 100.0 mL
volumetric flask. Dilute to the line with distilled water, cap and mix well.

Now pipet 25.00 mL of the dilute antacid-HCl solution into a clean Erlenmeyer
flask, add 25 mL of distilled water and 4-6 drops of modified methyl orange
indicator. Titrate with your standardized 0.1 M NaOH until the colour changes
from red-purple to green. Record the exact volume of 0.1 M NaOH used to reach
this point. Repeat the titration twice more.
57 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets

Calculations

Using the data from Part (A), calculate the molarity of the dilute HCl solution and of
the original stock HCl solution for each trial. Then, calculate the average molarity of
the stock HCl solution.

Using the data from Part (B), calculate the molarity of the dilute antacid-HCl solution
and of the original antacid-HCl solution for each trial. Then, calculate the average
molarity of the original antacid-HCl solution.

To find the ANC of the antacid tablet(s), calculate the number of moles of acid left in
the antacid-HCl solution. Subtract this from the number of moles of acid present in the
beaker before the antacid was added. This gives the number of moles of acid that
reacted with the antacid.
 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets 58

Part A: Standardization of the stock HCl solution

10.00 mL stock HCl 25.00 mL dilute HCl

Titrate with
standardized
NaOH using
phenolphthalein
indicator

stock HCl 100.0 mL dilute HCl prepared

Part A Calculations
1) M dilute HCl x V dilute HCl titrated = MNaOH x V NaOH
2) M stock HCl x V stock HCl = Mdilute HCl x V dilute HCl prepared

Part B: Titration of the remaining excess HCl solution

10.00 mL antacid-HCl 25.00 mL dilute antacid-HCl

Titrate with
standardized NaOH
using modified methyl
orange indicator

antacid-HCl (acid 100.0 mL

remaining after dilute antacid-HCl
stock HCl reacted prepared
with the antacid
tablet)

Part B Calculations
1) M dilute antacid-HCl x V dilute antacid-HCl titrated = M NaOH x V NaOH
2) Mantacid-HCl x Vantacid-HCl = Mdilute antacid-HCl x V dilute antacid-HCl prepared
 59 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets

Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets

DATA SHEET: Name: _______________________

Individual Report Lab Section: _______________

Part A: Standardization of the stock HCl solution

HCl solution: _________________

NaOH Molarity = _________________

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Final volume reading (V f)

Initial volume reading (V i)

Volume ~0.1 M NaOH used

Observations

Part B: Titration of the antacid tablets

Brand of antacid tablets _________________

Number of tablets/bottle

Cost of antacid tablets _________________

NaOH Molarity = _________________

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Final volume reading (V f)

Initial volume reading (V i)

Volume ~0.1 M NaOH used

Observations

Instructor's signature: _______________________

 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets 60

Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets: Formal Report

Computer generated / typed INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

1. Title Page – Title of the experiment, student name, lab section number

2. Objective Statement – What will be determined and how (experimental method).

Standardization of NaOH
Part A – Standardization of the Stock HCl Solution
Part B – Titration of the Antacid Tablet

3. Data Section – Table Format

Acid used: HCl solution A, B, C, etc
Standardization of NaOH data, including the average molarity of the NaOH
Part A – Volumes of NaOH
Part B – Volumes of NaOH
Brand name of tablet
Price of tablets / how many in the bottle

4. Calculation Section – Show sample calculations (one for each type):

NaOH molarity
Average NaOH molarity
M stock HCl
Average Mstock HCl
Mantacid-HCl
Average Mantacid-HCl
Cost per tablet
Total moles of H+ added to the beaker before neutralization by the tablet
Total moles of H+ left in the beaker after neutralization by the tablet
Total moles of H+ neutralized by the antacid tablet
Number of moles of H+ neutralized for a cost of $1.00
Ratio: moles of H+ neutralized per $1.00, comparing “Gas-B-Gone ” to your
brand of tablet:
“Gas-B-Gone” - $7.49/160 tablets, neutralizes 1.10 x 10-2 moles H+
per tablet

5. Results / Conclusions
Results – Use tables where appropriate
Concluding Statement:
- the molarity of your NaOH solution
- the ANC of your brand of antacid tablet
- comparison of your brand to “Gas-B-Gone” – how many times better one brand
is over the other

6. Appendix - Signed data sheets for the “Standardization of a Sodium

Hydroxide Solution” experiment and the “Acid Neutralizing Capacity of
Antacids” experiment
61 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets

Acid Neutralizing Capacity of Antacid Tablets: Pre-lab questions

1. The stomach contains an acid that is similar to what acid solution?

2. Define the term back-titration.

3. Why is the back-titration method used? (Give two good reasons.)

4. What two indicators will be used in this experiment? List the colour change for
each of the indicators.

5. The antacid tablets will be dissolved in an acid solution. What acid solution will
be used?

6. What does the abbreviation ANC stand for?

7. Give the dissociation equation for carbonic acid.

8. When you dilute a solution by the addition of water, the volume changes. What
remains constant?

9. Use the equation Mi x Vi = Mf x Vf to calculate the final molarity of a

solution when 20.00 mL of a 1.584 molar solution is diluted to a final volume of
250.0 mL.

10. Define standardization.

11. In the manual you are told the concentration of HCl is ~1 M. Why is it necessary
to standardize this solution?

12. Why is it necessary to dilute the stock HCl solution before titrating it with ~0.1 M
NaOH?