Baking Soda Formula, Uses and Properties

Baking Soda Formula: Baking Soda is commonly known as Sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda. Sodium bicarbonate is a crystalline white solid which is a fine powder. It is slightly alkaline and salty in taste. You would have more often seen it in the kitchen used in baking cakes, muffins, and cookies. It even acts as a leavening agent. The chemical name of the baking soda formula is Sodium hydrogen carbonate and the baking soda formula is NaHCO3. Here we have discussed baking soda in detail.   

What is Baking Soda Formula?

Baking Soda refers to Sodium Bicarbonate in chemistry. The molecular formula of Baking Soda is NaHCO₃. In medieval times, for the first time in history, the Egyptians quarried a mineral named natron which is a natural mineral consisting of Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃) mainly. They applied this mineral as soap to clean the clothes. In 1971, French chemist Nicolas Leblanc for the first time manufactured Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) chemical compound. In 1846, John Dwight and Austin Church opened a manufacturing firm to manufacture baking soda with the help of compounds like sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Baking soda is a crystalline chemical compound that is white in color and commonly found as a fine powder. The taste of baking soda is salty like that of washing soda (sodium carbonate). 

Characteristics of Baking Powder Formula

The characteristics of the baking powder formula are as follows-

Preparation of Baking Soda

Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) and washing soda (sodium carbonate) both are prepared through the Solvay process in industries. In this manufacturing process, many chemical compounds are used as raw materials like carbon dioxide, water, ammonia, and brine solution (NaCl) in their concentrated form. The industrial Solvay Process is mainly employed as it is relatively cheaper and fewer raw materials are used to manufacture Baking Soda. The following chemical reaction takes place to produce Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) in the industry.

CO₂ + H₂O + NH₃ + NaCl → NaHCO₃ + NH₄Cl

After getting Sodium Bicarbonate as a product in the industry, Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) can also be manufactured by applying the following chemical reactions. Applying a temperature above 50 °C (122 °F), the Sodium Bicarbonate decomposes into washing soda, along with water and carbon dioxide. The decomposition rate of baking soda relies on the temperature.

2 NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O

The released carbon dioxide gas can be recycled to form Baking Soda (NaHCO₃) again. 

Uses of Baking Soda

The common uses of Baking soda are-

Used in cooking as a leavening agent: Baking soda is primarily used in baking as a leavening agent. The addition of soda causes expansion of the batter and forms the characteristic texture and grain in cakes, quick bread, soda bread, and other baked and fried foods.

Used as Mild Disinfectant: It has mild disinfectant properties, and it acts as an effective fungicide against some organisms. 

Used as a Fire extinguisher: Sodium bicarbonate can be used in soda acid fire extinguishers. 

Use in Agriculture:  It has its application even in the field of agriculture, as when applied on the leaves, can prevent the growth of fungi however, it does not kill the fungus. 

Use in Medical treatment: Sodium bicarbonate when mixed with water can be used as an antacid to treat acidity and heartburn. Its reaction of sodium bicarbonate with stomach acid results in the formation of salt, water, and carbon dioxide. 

Used as a Cleaning agent: Sodium bicarbonate is used in the removal of paint and corrosion, commonly called as called soda blasting. 

Use to control odor: It is often considered that baking soda is an effective odor remover, and it is usually advised that an open box should be kept in the refrigerator to absorb odor.