Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2018 July 6

= July 6 =

Why soda (Sodium bicarbonate) isn't considered as anti acidic drug?
There are many antacids drugs, but my question Why soda (Sodium bicarbonate) which anybody consumes it as a carbonated water form isn't considered as anti acidic drug? According to my logic, soda is base and base is antacid. Isn't it? --2A02:ED0:6D6D:F300:7869:435F:5ED7:13CC (talk) 00:46, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * The drink "soda" is likely to have no sodium bicarbonate in it. The carbon dioxide will be partly in the form of carbonic acid which then might make a tiny amount of bicarbonate as it ionises. But this is balanced by the hydrogen ions, so it is not classified as a base, but more as an acid. I won't comment on drug classification as to antacid use. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 02:03, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Not true. Many of them do have sodium bicarbonate: See here for example (club soda ingredients of schweppes). 188.120.129.140 (talk) 15:09, 6 July 2018 (UTC)


 * And here is a listing of pH values for a number of popular non-alcoholic, non-dairy drinks. You'll note that almost all of them have pH<7.0, i.e. are acidic. Abecedare (talk) 02:17, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Some soda water has potassium carbonate added, whihc would be in the form of potassium bicarbonate once carbonated. Also there are mineral waters with calcium bicarbonate or magnesium bicarbonate in solution. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 03:55, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Magnesium salts cause diarrhea don't they? And another one maybe aluminum causes constipation. So if the OP wants a cheap antacid that should be taken into consideration (and that the cheapest chemicals would have impurities that might make them unfit for human consumption. I'm not sure if reagent grade is pure enough to be sure it's food grade if the chemical you're getting 99.99x% of is even safe to eat in antacid quantities in the first place. Also some bases are too strong to eat without great dilution. i.e. Sodium hydroxide is a base and that article has a photo showing that it eats organic tissue without a lot of dilution. This is also why wet cement itches (alkalinity) cement is not a good antacid obviously) Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 06:02, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Almost no one in richer countries is short on sodium and lots of people eat too much. That's probably why. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 02:37, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * And sodium bicarbonate isn't generally a major ingredient in soda drinks for enjoyment because too much would add saltiness. Perhaps someone is selling some sodium bicarbonate water somewhere to drink as a "keep healthy" or dubious remedy for something but it probably wouldn't taste good or sate your thirst if it has enough sodium bicarbonate to use as an antacid. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 02:45, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda. It can make non-carbonated acidic drinks like juice bear some resemblance to soda with the carbon dioxide bubbles and can remove all of its acidity but probably also makes it taste too salty. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 02:55, 6 July 2018 (UTC)
 * In addition to the points above, sodium bicarbonate (actual sodium bicarbonate, not soda water) is often used an an antacid. Our article you linked to specifically mentions it although as it also mentions, alternatives are frequently preferred for various reasons. While our article primarily mentions drug like formulations which for many given simplicity, dosage etc are preferred; some people do just take regular baking soda [//www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/baking-soda-do-dont], generally mixed with water. Nil Einne (talk) 03:06, 6 July 2018 (UTC)

Sodium bicarbonate is given intravenously to reverse metabolic acidosis during cardiac arrest, although as far as I'm aware the evidence that it improves outcomes e.g. survival is lacking. RichYPE (talk) 11:28, 13 July 2018 (UTC)