answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Sodium Hydroxide is way too basic (very high pH) and would cause internal damage.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why is magnesium hydroxide used as an antacid instead of sodium hydroxide?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What chemicals do antacid contain?

An antacid usually contains some sort of base. One antacid, milk of magnesia, is magnesium hydroxide. Other antacids include aluminum hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate.


Why is magnesium hydroxide a better antacid than sodium hydroxide?

Sodium hydroxide is a strong base (fully dissolves in water) and is highly caustic. If it touches the skin it can cause severe chemical burns. Swallowing it can result in severe damage, often permanent, to the digestive tract and death. Magnesium hydroxide is a weak base (minimally dissolves in water). It cannot cause the damage that sodium hydroxide does.


What type of chemical do antacids contain?

Anti acids are basically composed by magnesium hydroxide. As they react with the chloridric acid, the excessive acid is neutralized. These are meant not to neutralize the whole acid, but only the exceeding acid.


Equation for the reaction antacid tablet?

I was wondering how to write a word equation of the reactions that occurred between the acid and the respective active ingredients of each of the different antacid powders.i used t he following acntacids;Gastrogel-Magnesium Hydroxide, Aluminium HydroxideSandocal-Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Lactate, GluconateRennie-Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium CarbonateMylanta Double-Magnesium Hydroxide, Aluminium HydroxideMylanta-Magnesium Hydroxide, Aluminium HydroxideDewitt's-Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Carbonate Sodium Bicarbonate Magnesium Hydroxide


What happens when magnesium hydroxide reacts with sodium?

Nothing. Pardon my frankness but magnesium won't react with sodium hydroxide because sodium hydroxide is a strong alkali. The reactivity series shows that sodium is stronger than magnesium so it won't react. Magnesium will reduce sodium hydroxide to sodium 2Mg + 2NaOH --> 2MgO + 2Na + H2


Uses of bases?

Bases are commonly used in household cleaning products, as they have properties that help to dissolve dirt and grease. They are also used in agriculture to balance soil pH levels for optimal plant growth. In laboratories, bases are utilized in processes such as titrations and in the production of pharmaceuticals.


Does ammonia and magnesium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide make sodium hydroxide?

Absolutely not. There is no sodium in that equation whatsoever.


What would be observed and why when you mix magnesium chloride and sodium hydroxide?

Magnesium hydroxide, a precipitate, is formed.


What substance is antacid medicine made of?

An antacid contains hydroxides of magnesium and aluminium, bicarbonates of calcium and sodium.


What do antacids contain?

Most antacids contain oxygen and some sort of metal (calcium, sodium, potassium, aluminum, and magnesium are common). Additionally, most will contain hydrogen (in Mg(OH)2 and Al(OH)3), carbon (in CaCO3), or both (in NaHCO3 and KHCO3).


The examples of base?

Examples: sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, etc.


What would be observed from an aqueous mixture of magnesium chloride and sodium hydroxide?

You would observe precipitation of magnesium hydroxide.