Question

Milk of magnesia used as a medicine for treating indigestion is a substance that –
A. Helps in disintegration of food products leading to their facile metabolism.
B. Combines with gastric hydrochloric acid thereby enhancing the latter's efficiency
C. Improves the enzymatic activities inside the stomach.
D. Neutralises excess acidity, providing a buffered medium inside the stomach.

Answer 1

Hint: We know that Milk of magnesia is a basic and it is made of magnesium hydroxide which is the inorganic compound. Its chemical formula is ${\text{Mg}}{\left( {{\text{OH}}} \right)_{\text{2}}}$ . It is used to treat occasional constipation. It works on the principle of neutralisation reaction. It does not interact with enzymes etc.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us see some of the uses of milk of magnesia. It is a laxative . It works by drawing water into the intestines, which has an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines.
It is also used to treat symptoms when a lot of stomach acid such as heartburn, upset stomach, or indigestion. It is an antacid that works by lowering the amount of acid in the stomach.
Now let us analyse option by option to answer this question.
Option A says milk of magnesia Helps in disintegration of food products leading to their facile metabolism. This statement is not correct as milk of magnesia has no role in food disintegration. It is an antacid.
Option B says it combines with gastric hydrochloric acid thereby enhancing the latter's efficiency. Milk of magnesia neutralises the acid and does not increase its efficiency. So, this statement is also not correct.
Option C says that it improves the enzymatic activities inside the stomach. But, we know antacids have no effect on the enzymatic activities inside the stomach.
Option D says it neutralises excess acidity, providing a buffered medium inside the stomach. This is the correct statement as it neutralises excess acid of the stomach and gives relief.

So, the correct answer is Option D.

Note: It is to be noted that neutralisation reaction is the reaction in which an acid undergoes reaction with a base to give water and salt. Neutralisation reactions are applicable in our real life also. For example, When a bee bites, formic acid is released and it causes swelling and itching in our skin. When a small amount of baking soda is applied to the swelled area, the itching and swelling reduces because the base (baking soda) neutralises the acid.