Acid-Base Titrations: Analysis of Antacid Tablets

Arizaldo E. Castro Tarah Ann C. Cadiz Paulo T. Carpio Eleazar Ammon A. Cancel

De La Salle University-Dasmarias Dasmarias, Cavite

ABSTRACT

The efficiency of Tums, Simeco, Maalox, and a generic antacid brand were analyzed in the experiment through Acid-Base titration. Each group was assigned with a particular antacid to use. 2 Tums tablets were crushed and placed into two separate Erlenmeyer flasks. The flasks were added with 50 ml HCl to dissolve the powdered tablet. Afterwards, the mixture was titrated using NaOH. 7.3 and 12.5 ml of NaOH were consumed when the mixture of Tums and HCl was titrated for two trials. The results show that an average of 0.0769 g of HCl was dissolved per gram of the tablet. It can be inferred that when compared with other 3 brands of antacid analyzed, it was shown that Tums was the least efficient among the 4 while on the other hand, Simeco was found out to be the most effective with an average of g of HCl dissolved per gram of the table used. Indeed, an antacid can be considered effective if one gram of it can neutralize considerable amount of HCl and the like compounds.

INTRODUCTION

Gastro Esophageal Reflux or commonly called heartburn is a result of indigestion and sour stomach. Too much HCl in our stomach can result to a feeling of irritation in the tummy and a burning sensation that can cause a backflow of acidic stomach contents to the esophagus. In order to relieve pain brought by heart burn, normally, antacids are prescribed (1).

Antacids are medicines that relieve acid stomachs and peptic ulcers. Usually, one of their key components is either Aluminum hydroxide or Magnesium hydroxide or both. Sodium bicarbonate can also be a component of drugs that relive heart burn. These compounds are the ones that neutralize the acidic components found in the stomach that triggers heart burn. The alkaline compounds found on antacid tablets react with HCl and other acids found in the stomach such that neutralization process happens (1).

This neutralization reaction is quantitatively described and analyzed through a process called Acid-Base titration. Basically, Titration is a process of finding the amount of an acid, base or other species in a sample of matter. It is the method of determining the amount of solution of known concentration that will react completely with a certain amount of sample that is under analysis (1).

Antacid efficiency is quantitatively determined by acid-base titration. Through titration, one can find out the amount of base needed to neutralize the unreacted HCl to the antacid added. The greater the amount of HCl neutralized by a gram of the antacid tablet means that the antacid is more efficient (2).

It was assumed that through acid-base titration one can compare and determine the efficiency of commercial antacid tablets that were used by looking at their wt. of HCl/wt. of antacid values. The higher this value is, the more efficient the antacid is (2).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

2 tablets of Tums were crushed using mortar and pestle. The crushed antacid was weighed using the analytical balance up tot 4 decimal places. It was later placed inside two Erlenmeyer flasks. The crushed tablets were added with 50 ml HCl using an acid burette (2).

Afterwards, the antacid were totally dissolved in 50 ml HCl. 2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator were added to both mixtures for titration purposes. 0.1 M of NaOH was used to titrate the antacid and HCl mixture. When a faint pink color was seen, the titration process was stopped. The weight of HCL that

reacted with antacid tablet was calculated using the formula: Wt. of HCl=MW HCl((volumeHCl)(molarityHCl)(volumeNaOH)(molarityNaOH)) (2).

After the weight of remaining unreacted HCl was calculated from the volumes and molarity values of NaOH and HCl used, the weight of HCl per gram of the antacid tablet was computed for comparison of efficiency (2).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Table 1. Data gathered from two trials of Titration

No. of Trials

Weight of the Tablet Final volume of NaOH used Initial volume of NaOH used Volume of NaOH used Molarity of NaOH Molarity of HCl Volume of HCl Weight of HCL that has reacted with antacid tablet

1.8935 g 7.3 ml 0 ml 7.3 ml 0.1 M 0.1 M 50 ml 0.1537 g

1.8625 g 8 ml 20.5 ml 12.5 ml 0.1 M 0.1 M 50 ml 0.135 g

Weight of HCL/gram of antacid tablet

0.0812 g HCl/g tablet

0.0725 g HCl/g tablet

Average Weight of HCL/gram of antacid tablet

0.0769 g HCl/g tablet

When 50 ml of Hydrochloric acid was added to the crushed antacid tablet inside the Erlenmeyer flask, some of it is neutralized by the presence of alkaline compounds (Magnesium hydroxide, Aluminum

hydroxide, etc.) on the crushed antacid. The unreacted HCl that was not neutralized by the tablet was further neutralized by Sodium hydroxide that was added to the solution when it was under the titration process. The two trials resulted to an average of 0.0769 g of Hydrochloric acid dissolved by a gram of the branded tablet under analysis. When compared with other antacid tablets, Tums has the least numerical value of HCl in grams that reacted with one gram of antacid tablet. It can be said that Tums is the least efficient among the four antacids that were analyzed. Simeco, on the other hand, is the most effective.

In the titration executed, it can be noted that the Titrant used or the substance with known concentration was the 0.1 M Sodium hydroxide. The Analyte or the substance with unknown concentration was the antacid tablet and the indicator used was phenolphthalein. During the process, it can be said that the addition of phenolphthalein indicator is very much important because it will be the determinant if the end mark has been reached, meaning, the remaining HCl has fully reacted with NaOH. In the experimentation, a light pink color indicated the end mark of the titration process. If no indicator was used, the end mark or permanent color change in the solution will not be observed and thence might lead to erroneous results. In any acid-base titration, a suitable indicator should be chosen, preferably one that will experience a change in color (an end point) close to the equivalence point of the reaction.

Conversely, it is important that we have to dissolve the antacid as completely as possible in 50 ml HCl such that we can get the exact HCl that did not react with the antacid tablet and has to be neutralized with Sodium hydroxide.

Generally, Titration can be used in the determination of acid and base concentration through quantitative analysis of used base or acid added to the opposite reagent. It can also be used to find the percent purity of chemicals (3).

REFERENCES

(1) Miller, Jr. G.T. Chemistry: A Basic Introduction. 1978. Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. USA, Belmont, California.

(2) Samonte, J.L. Figueroa L.V. General Chemistry Laboratory Manual 3 Publishing, Inc. Philippines, Quezon Avenue.

rd

ed. 2007. C and E

(3) Chang, R. General Chemistry The Essential Concepts 5 Edition. 2008. McGraw-Hill.

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