Alka-Seltzer
Sign in to saveAlka-Seltzer is an effervescent antacid and pain reliever owned by Bayer since 1978. It contains three active ingredients: aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA), sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda), and anhydrous citric acid. The aspirin is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, while the sodium bicarbonate is an antacid. When an Alka-Seltzer tablet is dissolved in water, the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate react to form effervescence.
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Encyclopedic overview
7 sectionsContents
- Product information
- Chemistry of the effervescence
- Marketing
- History
- See also
- References
- External links
Alka-Seltzer is an effervescent antacid and pain reliever owned by Bayer since 1978. It contains three active ingredients: aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA), sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda), and anhydrous citric acid. The aspirin is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, while the sodium bicarbonate is an antacid. When an Alka-Seltzer tablet is dissolved in water, the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate react to form effervescence.
Alka-Seltzer was developed by head chemist Maurice Treneer and is marketed for relief of minor aches, pains, inflammation, fever, headache, heartburn, stomach ache, indigestion, acid reflux, and hangovers while neutralizing excess stomach acid. It was launched in 1931.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Alka-Seltzer” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.