What is the appropriate chemical analysis method to determine the formula of an unknown antacid?

I’m not very knowledgable about chemistry, but doesn’t a base neutralize an acid? Acid is low on the PH scale, so you would want something high? I don’t know.

Then again.. drinking a strong base would be more harmful than helpful. Don’t listen to me.

Exactly. That still doesn’t give you the formula though, considering you can use CaCO3, NaHCO3 or more complex such as Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 * 4H2O, the so called hydrotalcite.

Let me put it that way. How do you determine what’s in the pill?

I would use a combination of spectroscopy and chromatography.

Spectroscopy. That’s fun to say!

Qualitative analysis. Run metals on AA. Mass spec. Density just for laughs. Gas chromatography might show some flavorings (GC only shows volatile compounds) but chances are they will have to go to mass spec. for ID.