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General Chemistry Science Fair Project

Antacid Brands and Acid Neutralization

Hard
Antacid Brands and Acid Neutralization | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Which antacid brand neutralizes the most acid per dose? You dissolve the recommended dose of four brands -- Milk of Magnesia, Gaviscon, Tums, and Tagamet -- in separate beakers of water. Using a burette, you add hydrochloric acid drop by drop to each solution. You stir after every drop and check the pH until it reaches 7.0 (neutral). The brand that requires the most acid to reach neutral has the strongest buffering power. The results show a wide range. One brand neutralized nearly three times as much acid as another.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that all antacids will neutralize different amounts of acid but Milk of Magnesia will be able to neutralize the most acid.

Science Concepts Learned

Neutralization

Not all substances cancel out the same amount of acid. You dissolve the recommended dose of four antacid brands — Milk of Magnesia, Gaviscon, Tums, and Tagamet — in separate beakers of water. Using a burette, you add hydrochloric acid drop by drop to each solution, stirring and checking the pH after every drop until it reaches 7.0 (neutral). The brand that requires the most acid to reach neutral has the strongest buffering power. The results show a wide range: one brand neutralized nearly three times as much acid as another.

Method & Materials

You will fill 4 beakers with water, mix the recommended dosages of 4 types of antacids in their respective beakers, pour hydrochloric acid into a burette, and measure the amount of acid needed to neutralize the solution in each beaker.
You will need 4 beakers, 800ml water, 80ml hydrochloric acid, 4 brands of antacid – Milk of Magnesia, Gaviscon, Turns, Tagamet, 1 pH meter, 1 burette, 1 bowl and pistle, 1 glass stirrer, 1 measuring spoon, and 1 marker pen.

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Results

It was observed that Milk of Magnesia was able to neutralize the highest amount of acid and Gaviston neutralized the least amount. This experiment proves that Milk of Magnesia is the most effective antacid.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it tests the effectiveness of different antacids and helps us understand which one is the most effective.

Also Consider

What would happen if the experiment were to be continued until the pH level reached 3, the level in our stomach? The experiment can be repeated using other brands of antacids.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

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