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Sodium bicarbonate

 

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Sodium bicarbonate


 
 

Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compoundChemical compound

A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a ...
 with the formula NaHCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalFacts About Crystal

In chemistry and mineralogy, a crystal is a solid in which the constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are packed in a regular...
line but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slight alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda. It is a component of the mineral natronNatron

Natron is a white, crystalline hygroscopic mineral salt, primarily a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate with...
 and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. The natural mineral form is known as nahcoliteNahcolite

Nahcolite, NaHCO3, is a soft, colourless or white carbonate mineral also called sodium bicarbonate, Baking Soda or Thermo...
. It is also produced artificially.

Since it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many related names such as baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, bicarbonate of soda. Colloquially, its name is shortened to sodium bicarb. The word saleratus, from Latin sal æratus meaning "aerated saltSalt

In chemistry, a salt is any ionic compound composed of cations and anions so that the product is neutral ....
", was widely used in the 19th century for both sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonatePotassium bicarbonate

Potassium bicarbonate, is a colorless, odorless, slightly basic, salty substance....
. The term has now fallen out of common usage.

History

The ancient Egyptians used natural deposits of natronNatron

Natron is a white, crystalline hygroscopic mineral salt, primarily a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate with...
, a mixture consisting mostly of sodium carbonateSodium carbonate

Sodium carbonate, , is a sodium salt of carbonic acid....
 decahydrate and sodium bicarbonate. The natron was used as a cleansing agent like soapSOAP Summary

SOAP is a protocol for exchanging XML-based messages over a computer network, normally using []....
.

In 1791 a French chemist produced sodium bicarbonate, as we know it today. But it was only in 1846 that two New York bakers, John Dwight and Austin Church, developed the process of making baking soda from sodium carbonate and carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide Summary

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms....
. Each started a company, and the two companies later merged to form Church & Dwight, the makers of Arm & HammerArm & Hammer

Arm & Hammer is a registered trademark of Church and Dwight, an American manufacturer of household products....
 baking soda.

Production

NaHCO3 is mainly prepared by the Solvay processSolvay process

The Solvay process, also referred to as the ammonia-soda process is the major industrial process used in the productio...
, which is the reaction of calcium carbonateFacts About Calcium carbonate

Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound, with chemical formula CaCO3....
, sodium chlorideSodium chloride

Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or halite, is a chemical compound with the formula NaCl....
, ammoniaAmmonia

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3....
, and carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms....
 in water. It is produced on the scale of about 100,000 ton/year (as of 2001).

NaHCO3 may be obtained by the reaction of carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms....
 with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxideSodium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide , also known as lye or caustic soda, is a caustic metallic base....
. The initial reaction produces sodium carbonateSodium carbonate Overview

Sodium carbonate, , is a sodium salt of carbonic acid....
:

CO2 + 2NaOH ? Na2CO3 + H2O


Further addition of carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms....
 produces sodium bicarbonate, which at sufficiently high concentration will precipitate out of solution:

Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O ? 2NaHCO3


Commercial quantities of baking soda are also produced by a similar method: soda ash, mined in the form of the ore tronaTrona

Trona, hydrated sodium bicarbonate carbonate, is an evaporite mineral....
, is dissolved in water and treated with carbon dioxide. Sodium bicarbonate precipitates as a solid from this method:
Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O ? 2NaHCO3

Chemistry

Sodium bicarbonate is an amphoteric compound. It has a pKa of 6.3 in water which causes aqueous solutions to be mildly alkaline:

HCO3- + H2O ? H2CO3 + OH-Hydroxide

Hydroxide is a polyatomic ion consisting of oxygen and hydrogen:...



Sodium bicarbonate can be used as a wash to remove any acidic impurities from a "crude" liquid, producing a more pure sample. Reaction of sodium bicarbonate and an acidAcid Overview

An acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a pH of less ...
 to give a salt and carbonic acid, which readily decomposes to carbon dioxide and water:
NaHCO3 + HCl ? NaCl + H2CO3
H2CO3 ? H2O + CO2


Reaction of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid:
NaHCO3 + CH3COOHAcetic acid

Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic chemical compound best recognized for giving vinegar its sour ...
  ? CH3COONaSodium acetate

Sodium acetate, also known as sodium ethanoate, is used in a number of industries:...
 + H2O + CO2 (gas)


Sodium bicarbonate reacts with baseBase (chemistry)

DefinitionA base is a substance which has a free pair of electrons to bind a proton ....
s:
NaHCO3 + NaOHSodium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide , also known as lye or caustic soda, is a caustic metallic base....
  ? Na2CO3 + H2O

Thermal decomposition

Above 60 °C, it gradually decomposes into sodium carbonateSodium carbonate

Sodium carbonate, , is a sodium salt of carbonic acid....
, waterWater Summary

Water is a tasteless, odorless substance that is essential to all known forms of life and is known as the universal solve...
 and carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide Overview

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms....
. The conversion is fast at 200 °C:
2NaHCO3 ? Na2CO3Sodium carbonate

Sodium carbonate, , is a sodium salt of carbonic acid....
 + H2O + CO2

Most bicarbonates undergo this dehydration reactionDehydration reaction

In chemistry, a dehydration reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the loss of water from the reacting molecule....
. Further heating converts the carbonate into the oxide (at around 1000°C):
Na2CO3 ? Na2OSodium oxide

Sodium oxide has formula Na2O. It is also called sodium oxide, disodium oxide, sodium monoxide, and soda....
  + CO2

These conversions are relevant to the use of NaHCO3 as a fire-suppression agent ("BC powder") in some dry powder fire extinguisherFire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device to extinguish or control a fire, often in emergency situations....
s.

Applications

Cooking

Sodium bicarbonate is primarily used in cookingCooking

Cooking is an act of preparing food for eating....
 where it reacts with other components to release carbon dioxide, that helps doughDough

Dough is a paste made out of any cereals or leguminous crops by grinding it with a small amount of water....
 "rise". The acidic compounds that induce this reaction include phosphates, cream of tartar, lemon juiceLemon

The lemon is a hybrid citrus tree of cultivated origin....
, yogurt, buttermilkButtermilk

Buttermilk is the liquid left over after producing butter from full-cream milk by the churning process....
, cocoaCocoa Overview

Cocoa is the dried and partially fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree from which chocolate is made....
, vinegarVinegar

Vinegar is a sour-tasting liquid made from the oxidation of ethanol in wine, cider, beer, fermented fruit juice, or nearly a...
, etc., hence sodium bicarbonate can be substituted for baking powderFacts About Baking powder

Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent used in baking....
 provided sufficient acid reagent is also added to the recipe. Many forms of baking powderBaking powder

Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent used in baking....
 contain sodium bicarbonate combined with one or more acidic phosphates or cream of tartar.

Neutralization of acids and bases

Many laboratories keep a bottle of sodium bicarbonate powder within easy reach, because sodium bicarbonate is amphoteric, reacting with acids and basesPH

pH is a measure of the acidity of a solution, in terms of activity of hydrogen ions ....
. (See Chemistry) Furthermore, as it is relatively innocuous in most situations there is no harm in using excess sodium bicarbonate. Lastly, sodium bicarbonate powder may be used to smother a small fire.

A wide variety of applications follow from its neutralization properties including ameliorating the effects of white phosphorus in incendiary bullets from spreading inside an afflicted soldier's wounds. Sodium bicarbonate can be added as a simple solution for raising the pH balance of water that has a high level of chlorine, such as in swimming pools and aquariums.
Medical uses
Sodium bicarbonate is used as an antacidAntacid

An antacid is any substance, generally a base, which counteracts stomach acidity....
 to treat acid indigestionAcid indigestion

Acid indigestion is a type of indigestion involving an excess of hydrochloric acid in the stomach....
 and heartburnHeartburn

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone caused by regurgit...

An aqueous solution is administered intravenously for cases of acidosisAcidosis Overview

Acidosis is an increased acidity of blood plasma....
, or when there is insufficient sodium or bicarbonate ions in the blood. This compound has also been used as for patients who have had a ureterosigmoidostomyUreterosigmoidostomy

A ureterosigmoidostomy is a surgical procedure where the ureters which carry urine from the kidneys, are diverted into the s...
.

Adverse reactions to emergency administration include congestive heart failureCongestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure, also called congestive cardiac failure or just heart failure, is a condition that can ...
, with edema secondary to sodium overload, and the metabolic complication of hyperosmolarity, metabolic alkalosisMetabolic alkalosis

Metabolic alkalosis is a metabolic condition in which the pH of the blood is elevated beyond the normal range....
, and hypernatremia.
As a cleaning agent
  • A paste from baking soda can be very effective when used in cleaning and scrubbing.
  • For cleaning of aluminium objects it is to be discouraged as it attacks the thin unreactive protective oxide layer of this otherwise very reactive metal.
  • A solution in warm water will remove the tarnishFacts About Tarnish

    Tarnish is a layer of corrosion that develops over copper,...
     from silverSilver Overview

    Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag ....
     when the silver is in contact with a piece of aluminium foilAluminium foil

    Aluminium foil is aluminium prepared in thin sheets....
    .

Miscellanea
  • Sodium bicarbonate is used in BC Dry Chemical fire extinguishers as an alternative to the corrosive ammonium phosphateAmmonium phosphate

    Ammonium phosphate. The normal ammonium phosphate,3PO4, is obtained as a crystalline powder, on mixing concentrated solution...
     in ABC extinguishers. The alkali nature of sodium bicarbonate makes it the only dry powder agent, besides Purple-KPurple-K

    Purple-K is a dry chemical fire suppression agent used in some dry powder fire extinguishers....
    , allowed for use on commercial deep fat fryers. The agent forms a crust over the surface similar to the effects of a wet chemical.
  • It is used in a process for cleaning paint called sodablastingSodablasting

    Sodablasting is a process where sodium bicarbonate is applied against a surface using compressed air....
    .
  • It can be used as a carbon sequestrationCarbon capture and storage

    Carbon capture and storage is an approach to mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from large point sources ...
     agent to trap carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

    Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms....
     greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas

    Greenhouse gases are gaseous components of the atmosphere that contribute to the "greenhouse effect"....
     emissions in solid form, as one potential tool against global warmingGlobal warming

    Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades....
    .
  • It can be administered to garden ponds to raise pH levels.

See also

  • NatronNatron

    Natron is a white, crystalline hygroscopic mineral salt, primarily a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate with...
  • NahcoliteNahcolite Summary

    Nahcolite, NaHCO3, is a soft, colourless or white carbonate mineral also called sodium bicarbonate, Baking Soda or Thermo...
  • List of mineralsList of minerals

    This is a List of minerals for which there are Wikipedia articles....
  • Carbonic acidCarbonic acid

    Carbonic acid is the only inorganic carbon acid, and has the formula H2CO3....


Further reading

  1. Bishop, D., J. Edge, C. Davis, and C. Goodman. Induced Metabolic AlkalosisAlkalosis

    Alkalosis refers to a condition reducing hydrogen ion concentration of arterial blood plasma....
     Affects Muscle Metabolism and Muscle Metabolism and Repeated-Sprint Ability. Medicine and Science in Sports Exercise, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 807-813, 2004.

External links