Neutralisation in everyday contexts
Neutralisation is the reaction between an acid and alkali or base to produce a salt and water.
Neutralisation reactions are very common in everyday life.
1. Treating indigestion
Your stomach contains hydrochloric acid to help prevent infection and digest food.
Sometimes there can be too much acid in your stomach, this is called indigestion.
Indigestion medicines contain an alkali that helps to neutralise the excess acid.
For example, Milk of Magnesia contains magnesium hydroxide.
Magnesium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce magnesium chloride and water.
2. Using toothpaste
Bacteria in our mouths break down sugar in food, this produces acid.
Many foods we eat contain weak acids.
If the pH of the mouth is 5.5 then tooth decay can happen.
Toothpaste contains an alkali such as sodium hydrogencarbonate, which can neutralise the acid and help prevent tooth decay.