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Pharmacy/gastric acid neutralization

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Expert: Eric Brandt - 4/30/2007


Question
Dear Mr. Brandt,

Would you be able to tell me how many mEq of antacid is needed to bring 1.5 liters of hydrochloric acid (pH of 1.5) to a pH of 3.3?  The reason I’m asking in terms of “mEq” is that it’s my understanding milliequivalents are a way of measuring alkali putting all alkalies on an equal basis:  one milliequivalent of any alkali will neutralize the same amount of acid as one milliequivalent of any other alkali.  (Didn’t take chemistry classes in school.  What I do know I cobbled together from information on the Internet.)

Thank you for your time, and your patience,
Calamity J.  

Answer
Hi,
I have not done these kind of calculations since first year pharmacy- 28 years ago. In real practice there is never a need to do this kind of calculations. Sorry I can not help with this one.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm

Pharmacy

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