Science Common Sense

172 - How do antacids neutralize stomach acid?

Antacids are like superheroes that save your stomach from too much acid. They work by mixing with the stomach acid and neutralizing it. Here's how:

Stomach acid is acidic (it has a low pH), and antacids are basic (they have a high pH). When you take an antacid, it goes into your stomach and meets the acidic stomach juice. The antacid's basic pH counteracts the acidic pH of the stomach juice, and they balance each other out.

Think of it like a seesaw. The antacid is on one side, and the stomach acid is on the other. When they meet, they balance each other, and the pH in your stomach becomes just right – not too acidic or too basic.

Common antacids like Tums, Rolaids, or milk of magnesia contain ingredients like calcium, magnesium, or aluminum that help neutralize the stomach acid.