{"id":934,"date":"2026-06-08T02:29:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T06:29:14","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-08-12T12:21:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:21:47","slug":"sodium-bicarbonate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/?p=934","title":{"rendered":"Sodium Bicarbonate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sodium bicarbonate<\/span><\/span><\/a> is a chemical compound with the formula\u00a0<\/span><\/span>NaHCO<\/span>3<\/sub><\/span>. It is a white crystalline solid that mostly appears as a fine powder. It has a somewhat salty, alkaline taste, like washing soda (sodium carbonate). The natural mineral form is a component of the mineral natron, called nahcolite. It is found dissolved in many mineral springs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since it has long been known and is widely used as a food additive, the salt<\/span><\/a> has many related names such as baking soda<\/span><\/strong> or cooking soda, and bicarbonate of soda. Its name comes from the Latin sal \u00e6ratus meaning aerated salt.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Difference between
\nbaking soda and baking powder<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Baking powder contains baking soda, plus a powdered acid and cornstarch. Baking powder is a mixture. Baking soda, NaHCO<\/span>3,<\/sub> is a pure substance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Baking soda is alkaline, so acid is used in baking powder to avoid a metallic taste when the chemical change during baking creates sodium carbonate. However, to avoid the over-flavoring of acidic taste, non-acid ingredients like milk or processed cocoa must be added.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NaHCO<\/span>3<\/sub>\u00a0can be obtained by the reaction of carbon dioxide with a water based solution of sodium hydroxide. This reaction produces sodium carbonate:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CO<\/span>2<\/sub>\u00a0+ 2 NaOH \u2192 Na<\/span>2<\/sub>CO<\/span>3<\/sub>\u00a0+ H<\/span>2<\/sub>O<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Adding more carbon dioxide produces sodium bicarbonate, which at sufficiently high concentration will accumulate on the bottom.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Commercial quantities of baking soda are also produced by a similar method: soda ash, mined as the ore trona, is dissolved in water and treated with CO2<\/sub>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The word “trona” comes from the ancient Egyptian word ntry<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. From deposits found in\u00a0the\u00a0Natron<\/span><\/a> Valley<\/span>, they ground, solvated it, and then used it as paint for hieroglyphics. It precipitates as a solid from this method<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Na2<\/sub>CO3<\/sub> + CO2<\/sub> + H2<\/sub>O \u2192 2 NaHCO3<\/sub><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Reaction of sodium bicarbonate salt and an acid produce a salt and carbonic acid, which readily decomposes to carbon dioxide and H2<\/sub>O:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NaHCO3<\/sub> + HCl \u2192 NaCl + H2<\/sub>CO3<\/sub><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

H2<\/sub>CO3<\/sub> \u2192 H2<\/sub>O + CO2<\/sub><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sodium bicarbonate reacts with acetic acid (in vinegar), producing sodium acetate, H2<\/sub>O (water), and carbon dioxide:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NaHCO3<\/sub> + CH3<\/sub>COOH \u2192
\nCH3<\/sub>COONa + H2<\/sub>O + CO2<\/sub><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sodium bicarbonate reacts with bases such as sodium hydroxide to form sodium carbonates and water:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NaHCO<\/span>3<\/sub>\u00a0+ NaOH \u2192 Na2<\/sub>CO3<\/sub> + H2<\/sub>O<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Applications:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n