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Alkaline household products. A selection of everyday products that have alkaline properties. From left to right: indigestion tablets (antacids), toothpaste, cream cleaner, bleach, metal polish, oven cleaner, baking powder. Alkalis react with and can neutralise acids. Indigestion tablets help neutralise excess stomach acid. Strong alkalis such as cream cleaner, bleach and oven cleaner, are corrosive and can break down the proteins that make up items such as grease and hair. Baking powder contains an acid and an alkali (sodium bicarbonate). When mixed in solution, these ingredients react to produce bubbles of carbon dioxide gas which expand and help the baking mix to rise (leaven).