The Effect of Different Active Ingredients in Antacids on a Simulated Stomach Environment

The experiment tested the significance of the change in pH of hydrochloric acid after the addition of three active ingredients found in antacids. The active ingredients used in this experiment were aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide. To simulate a stomach environment, we created a solution of hydrochloric acid and pepsin, an enzyme found in the stomach that acts as a buffer. For our statistical analysis, we performed three matched-pairs t tests to determine the significance of the change in pH. We also performed three two-sample t tests to determine the significance of the differences in the change in pH between each of the antacids. Our statistical analysis showed that the pH of the hydrochloric acid-pepsin solution was significantly changed with the addition of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide but not by the addition of aluminum hydroxide. The statistical analysis also proved that there was no significant difference between the change brought about by calcium carbonate and the change brought about by magnesium hydroxide (the two chemicals that brought about significant change in the pH).

Research Done By:

Elizabeth Geerer
L'Anse Creuse High School

Whitney Reinhold
L'Anse Creuse High School

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