Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Neutralization Reaction
A neutralization reaction occurs when an acid reacts with a base to produce water and a salt. In this context, the stomach acid (HCl) reacts with magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) from milk of magnesia. The general equation for this reaction is: HCl + Mg(OH)₂ → MgCl₂ + 2H₂O. Understanding this reaction is crucial for calculating how much stomach acid can be neutralized.
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Molarity and Concentration
Molarity is a measure of the concentration of a solute in a solution, expressed in moles per liter (mol/L). To calculate how much stomach acid is neutralized, one must know the concentration of HCl in the stomach and the amount of Mg(OH)₂ in the milk of magnesia. This concept is essential for determining the stoichiometry of the neutralization reaction and the volume of acid neutralized.
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Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on balanced equations. It allows us to determine the amount of reactants needed or products formed in a reaction. In this case, stoichiometry will help calculate how many milliliters of stomach acid can be neutralized by the amount of Mg(OH)₂ present in a tablespoon of milk of magnesia, using the molar ratios from the balanced equation.
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