A CLOSER LOOK Stomach acidity C you think you have an" acid stomach, CH,(CO, C H )CO, H(aq)+H- O(aq)-C+H(CO CH,)COz(aq)+H,O"(aq) due largely to hydrochloric acid, which is needed for the the digestion of proteins in food. As sod as food reaches your stomach, acidic gas. tric juices are released by glands in the mucous lining of the stomach, Hydrogen are produced in blood plasma by the sported through the stomach lin- galong with CI, which provides chan balance. Because the stomach wall con- onder the stomach does not digest itself. In fact, it sometimes does, producing a At the pH of the stomach, most of the and, once inside, are in a region of lower conjugate base, the acetylsalicylate ion,re- Thev are therefore able to ionize stomach wall resists the alack of H o, us wit H,o', lewing spirin lagely amd produce H O. The anccumadrcon of a3 peste,“ 445mT00 un-ionized. In equilbrium lies to the H,O in the wall can cause bleeding, but lucing cells. These cells prevent the left In the neutral form aspirin molecules the amount of blood lost per aspirin into the blood plasma. Ordinarily, these are able to penetrate the stomach wall, tablet is not generally harmful cells are continuously being sloughed off and replaced at the rate of about half a million cells per minute Much food, when your stomach is irritated by verv The pH of stomac spicy food, it responds with an outpour ds is about 1.5 oint where discomfort is felt. You kno A duodenal ou can take an antacid to relieve an"acid stomach, and their chemistry was de- sunbed on page ach wall can als aged by the action of aspirin n aspirin. cetlsalicvlic acid, is a weak carboxvlic The lining of the stomach contains cells that secrete a solution of hydrochloric acid, The pH of the solution is about I5, Some people's stomachs produce more acid than is needed for the pr ary digestion of food, resulting in indigestion, among other things75