How do antacids reduce pain during indigestion?
Neutralising excess stomach acid
The stomach normally secretes hydrochloric acid to help digestion.
During indigestion the acid is produced in excess, irritating the stomach lining and causing a burning pain.
Antacids are mild bases such as magnesium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate.
They react with the excess HCl in a neutralisation reaction, converting it to salt and water and raising the stomach pH toward neutral.
This relieves the irritation and, therefore, the pain of indigestion.
Hence, antacids work by neutralising the excess stomach acid.
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