Description

Aluminum hydroxide, or **Al(OH)₃**, is a chemical compound often used as an antacid to neutralize stomach acid and relieve symptoms like heartburn or indigestion. It also has applications in other fields such as water purification, as a flame retardant, and in vaccines as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response.

In medicine, aluminum hydroxide works by reacting with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form aluminum chloride and water, reducing acidity. It is usually found in antacid formulations like suspensions, chewable tablets, or capsules.

Some of its key properties and uses include:

1. **Medical use**:
– Relieves heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach.
– It may cause constipation as a side effect.

2. **Water treatment**:
– Used in water purification to remove impurities by coagulation and sedimentation.

3. **Flame retardant**:
– Added to materials like plastics to slow down or prevent the spread of fire by releasing water when heated.

4. **Vaccine adjuvant**:
– Used in certain vaccines to boost the body’s immune response to the vaccine antigens.

Aluminum hydroxide is amphoteric, meaning it can react with both acids and bases. Its solubility in water is very low, making it stable in aqueous solutions.