Editing Elixir (section)

==Composition==
[[File:Elixir Mondet gentiane affi.JPG|thumb|Poster for Elixir Mondet, 1899]]
An elixir is a [[water|hydro]]-[[ethanol|alcohol]]ic solution of at least one active ingredient. The alcohol is mainly used to:
* Solubilize the active ingredient(s) and some excipients
* Retard the crystallization of sugar
* Preserve the finished product
* Provide a sharpness to the taste
* Aid in masking the unpleasant taste of the active ingredient(s)
* Enhance the flavor.
The lowest alcoholic quantity that will dissolve completely the active ingredient(s) and give a clear solution is generally chosen. High concentrations of alcohol give burning taste to the final product.

An elixir may also contain the following [[excipient]]s:
* [[Sugar]] and/or [[sugar substitute]]s like the [[Sugar alcohol|sugar polyols]] [[glycerol]] and [[sorbitol]].
* [[Preservative]]s like [[paraben]]s and [[benzoic acid|benzoates]] and [[antioxidant]]s like [[butylated hydroxytoluene]] (BHT) and [[sodium metabisulfite]].
* [[Buffering agent]]s
* [[Chelating agent]]s like [[sodium]] [[ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid]] ([[EDTA]])
* [[Flavoring agent]]s and [[flavor enhancer]]s
* [[Color|Coloring agents]]