Sodium bicarbonate
A versatile compound used in cooking, medicine, and industry.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Sodium bicarbonate (IUPAC name: sodium hydrogen carbonate), commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a white, crystalline solid often appearing as a fine powder, with a slightly salty, alkaline taste. It is widely used in cooking as a leavening agent, in fire extinguishers, as an antacid, and in many other applications.
- chemical_formula
- NaHCO3
- common_names
- baking soda, bicarbonate of soda, bread soda, cooking soda, brewing soda, saleratus
- natural_mineral_form
- nahcolite
- e_number
- E500
- primary_use
- leavening agent in baking
Lore & Background
Sodium bicarbonate is a salt composed of a sodium cation and a bicarbonate anion. Its natural mineral form is nahcolite, though it is more commonly found as a component of the mineral trona. The prefix 'bi-' in 'bicarbonate' comes from an outdated naming system, reflecting that there is twice as much carbonate per sodium in sodium bicarbonate as in sodium carbonate. The term 'baking soda' is most common in the United States, while 'bicarbonate of soda' is more common in Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
Reader's Guide
Sodium bicarbonate's significance lies in its wide range of practical uses. In cooking, it acts as a leavening agent, releasing carbon dioxide when reacted with an acid or heated, which expands batters and creates texture in baked goods. It is a key component of baking powder. Beyond the kitchen, it is used in pyrotechnics, as a mild disinfectant, and in fire extinguishers, where it releases carbon dioxide and water to smother flames. Medically, it serves as an antacid for acid indigestion and is used intravenously for acidosis. It is also taken as a sports supplement to improve muscular endurance. Despite its many benefits, some alternative practitioners have promoted it as a cancer cure, which the American Cancer Society has warned against due to unproven effectiveness and potential danger.
Did You Know?
- Sodium bicarbonate is one of the main components of the common 'black snake' firework.
- It can be used to extinguish small grease or electrical fires by releasing carbon dioxide when heated.
- Intravenous sodium bicarbonate is sometimes used for cases of acidosis or hyperkalemia.
- A mixture of sodium bicarbonate and polyethylene glycol is used as a gastrointestinal lavage preparation before surgery.
More in Sodium Compounds 1-24
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