Final answer:
Enteric-coated tablets and capsules have a coating that is insoluble in stomach acid, ensuring the medication is released in the small intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enteric-coated tablets and capsules are coated with a substance that is insoluble in stomach acid. This special coating is designed to protect the medicine within from being released in the stomach, where the acidic environment could potentially cause damage to the medication or irritation to the stomach lining. The purpose of the coating is to protect the medication from being dissolved or degraded by the acid in the stomach, allowing it to reach the small intestine where it can be absorbed. Instead, the medication remains intact until it reaches the more neutral pH environment in the small intestine, where it then dissolves and can be absorbed into the bloodstream.