Acid Base Titrations: Analysis of Antacid Tablets

Wendy Pasquel
Arabelle Santos
Marion Opiña
Renz Emmanuel Untalan

De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
Dasmariñas, Cavite Philippines

ABSTRACT

The analysis of antacid tablet was the main topic of this experiment. Through this experiment,
proper techniques of acid-base titration were learned. Also, the efficiency of the antacid tablets were
determined and compared. Proper procedures were observed in the following experiments for it to be
successful. Two antacid tablets were crushed in a mortar and pestle and got the actual weight of it using
the analytical balance and transferred in two separate 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. 50.0 mL of 0.1 M HCl
was added to the antacid and let it dissolved. Two drops of phenolphthalein indicator were added also
into the mixture and mixed thoroughly. Antacid mixture was titrated with 0.1 M NaOH until the solution
turned into a faint pink color. It was done in two trials. The weight of the tablet, final volume of NaOH,
initial volume of NaOH, volume of NaOH and HCl used and molarity of NaOH and HCl were noted. The
calculated weight of HCl that has reacted with antacid tablet was 0.3025 g HCl per g antacid tablet and
0.3073 g HCl per g antacid tablet. The experiment is a total of success because necessary data were
recorded.

INTRODUCTION

Antacid tablets are probably one of the most widely used self-prescribed medicines. They are
taken to relieve the medically undefined conditions of heartburn, acid indigestion and sour stomach.
Excessive hydrochloric acid in the stomach causes a feeling of discomfort and a burning sensation
beneath the breastbone resulting from a spastic backflow of this acid content into the esophagus. In
determining the efficiency of an antacid tablet, the volume of unreacted HCl in the antacid mixture is
titrated with NaOH.

The chemical equation that describes the reaction between HCl and NaOH is

HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O

The equation used to calculate the amount of HCl neutralized is

(NHCl ) (VHCl) = (NNaOH) (VNaOH)

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Two antacid tablets were crushed in a mortar and pestle and got the actual weight of it using the
analytical balance and transferred in two separate 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. 50.0 mL of 0.1 M HCl was
added to the antacid and let it dissolved. Two drops of phenolphthalein indicator were added also into the
mixture and mixed thoroughly. Antacid mixture was titrated with 0.1 M NaOH until the solution turned into
a faint pink color. It was done in two trials. After it, the weight of HCl that reacted with lg of antacid tablet
was calculated using this formula.

Wt. of HCl = MW HCl [( volume in liter HCl) (molarity HCl) – (volume in liter NaOH)( molarity NaOH)]

wt . of HCl wt . of HCl
=
g antacid wt . of antacid

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Through acid-base titration, the molar concentration of an acid or base can be determined. The
table below shows the result of the experiment.

Table 1: Antacid Tablet Analysis

No. of trials 1 2

Weight of the tablet 0.5943 g 0.5860 g

Final volume of NaOH 25.4 mL 22.5 mL

Initial volume of NaOH 0 mL 0 mL

Volume of NaOH used 25.4 mL 22.5 mL

Molarity of NaOH 0.1 M 0.1 M

Molarity of HCl 0.1 M 0.1 M

Volume of HCl 50.0 mL 50.0 mL

Weight of HCl that has reacted

0.17976 g. 0.18005 g.
with antacid tablet

Weight of HCl per gram of g HCl g HCl

0.3025 0.3073
antacid tablet g tablet g tablet

As you could see in the table, we have done two trials. On the first try, 0.5943 g was the weight of
the tablet while in the second one was 0.5860 g. The initial volume of NaOH was 0 but when it came to
final volume and volume, 25.4 mL was the measurement. Both molarity of NaOH and HCl was
automatically 0.1 M as well as the volume of the HCl which is 50 mL. The calculated weight of HCl that
has reacted with antacid tablet was 0.3025 g HCl per g antacid tablet and 0.3073 g HCl per g antacid
tablet.

1. We will know if all the HCl has been neutralized by the NaOH when enough NaOH has been added to
react with all of the HCl the indicator, phenolphthalein will turn pink. The paler the color of pink, the
better. Excess pink color means you added too much base and you should start over. It usually takes
several trials to get good results.

2. We needed to dissolve the antacid as completely as possible in the 0.1 M HCl because if it's not
completely dissolved, then we can't get the true pH of the solution.

REFERENCES

(1) Figueroa, L. and Samonte.J. Laboratory Manual in General Chemistry. 4th Edition. 2014. C&E
Publishing. Philippines.

(2) Acid-Base Titrations

Author-not mentioned.
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_Chemistry/Quantitative_Analysis/Titration/Acid-Base_Titrations

(3) Acid-Base Titration with Antacids Experiments

Author not mentioned. August 28, 2014
http://www.ehow.com/about_5876711_acid_base-titration-antacids-experiments.html