Final answer:
Antacids like Mylanta work by neutralizing stomach gastric acid. They contain alkaline ions that react with excess hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach to reduce damage and relieve pain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antacids such as Mylanta work by chemically neutralizing stomach gastric acid. They contain alkaline ions that react with the excess hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach, reducing damage and relieving pain. For example, Mylanta contains magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) as its active ingredient, which reacts with HCl to form magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and water (H2O).