An antimicrobes tend to destroy/prevent development or inhibit the pathogenic action of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, virus or other parasites selectively. Thus, antimicrobial are drugs which cure diseases caused by microorganisms.

Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids such as stearic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid. Soaps containing sodium salts are formed by heating fat (i.e., glyceryl ester of fatty acid) with aqueous sodium hydroxide Ans.

This reaction is known as saponification. In this reaction, esters of fatty acids are hydrolysed and the soap obtained remains in colloidal form. It is precipitated from the solution by adding NaCl . The solution left after removing the soap contains glycerol as side product.

Bathing soaps are potassium salts of long chain fatty acids. They are usually soft and are also free from unused alkali. On the other hand, washing soaps are sodium salts of long chain fatty acids. They are usually hard and also contain some residual alkali.

Soap that float in water are made by beating tiny air bubbles before their hardening. Transparent soaps are made by dissolving the soap in ethanol and then evaporating the excess solvent.

Usual antacid like sodium hydrogen carbonate control only the symptom and not the cause. They neutralize the excess of acid produce in the stomach. but do not control the cause of production of excess of HCl in stomach.

Histamine, a chemical, is responsible for the secretion of pepsin and HCl in the stomach. Antihistamine are the drugs which supress the action of histamine, which in turn supress the secretion of pepsin and HCl in the stomach. Antihistamine prevent the binding of histamine with the receptors present in the stomach wall.

As a result, less HCl is produced and hyperacidity is cured. Thus, a better treatment for curing acidity is to use antihistamines over antacids.