Chemical Formula for Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of the most popular household products. We all must be aware about its wide applications, primarily in cooking purposes. Baking soda or chemically known as sodium bicarbonate or more precisely, by its IUPAC name, sodium hydrogen carbonate, is represented by the chemical formula, NaHCO₃. So 'what is baking soda'? Well, baking soda is in essence, a white crystalline salt of sodium and it appears in powder form, usually.

Chemical Formula for Baking Powder

What is the chemical name for baking soda? Baking soda or baking powder has various chemical names like sodium bicarbonate (Na₂CO₃), bicarbonate of soda, sodium hydrogen carbonate ( NaHCO₃). It is also called sodium bicarb or simply bicarb. The main chemical formula for baking soda is NaHCO₃ and it's prepared industrially by Solvay process.

In the Solvay process, the chemicals, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), sodium chloride (NaCl), ammonia (NH₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) are used. All these chemical are reacted in various steps to obtain the main product. The reactions proceeds in two steps:

Step#1: Reaction of aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

CO₂ + 2 NaOH → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O

Step#2: Addition of more carbon dioxide to the above reaction

Na₂CO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O → 2NaHCO₃

Chemical Reaction of Baking Soda in Water

The baking soda formula, as stated earlier itself indicates about the ions that it contains, for instance, NaHCO₃ consists of two ions, sodium ions (cations) Na⁺ and bicarbonate ions (anions) HCO₃^-. Here is how sodium bicarbonate dissolves in water breaking into two ions.

NaHCO₃ → Na⁺(aq) + HCO₃^-(aq)

Thermal Decomposition of Baking Soda

The chemical formula for any compound gives us a broad insight about various chemical reactions and properties of the compound. By the formula of baking soda, i.e. NaHCO₃, it is clear that if we decompose the compound using heat energy, we can get compounds by the help of which it has been prepared. Here is how the reaction proceeds at 70°C.

2 NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂

As a thumb rule, one can remember that most of the hydroxides in general follow the above decomposition reaction. If heated further, at around 100°C, hydroxides breaks down into their corresponding oxides.

Na₂CO₃ → Na₂O (sodium oxide) + CO₂

Baking Soda Uses

Baking Soda finds extensive use in industrial and household products. Sodium bicarbonate is used as a medicine for indigestion and acidic gas by mixing in appropriate amounts in different medications. In renal and uric acid cases, sodium bicarbonate is used for treatment of urine related problems. A solution of sodium bicarbonate is considered to be intravenous in cases of acidosis. Sodium bicarbonate in proper amounts is added along with appropriate concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution and serves as an alternative for toothpastes.

The most common use of baking soda in our households is for cleaning and bleaching purposes. Sodium bicarbonate is extensively used for baking purposes. Baking soda is used as chemical leavening agents that helps the batter to rise when baked. However, adding too much baking powder to the batter, leads to bitter taste so one must be careful about the appropriate amount of baking powder that has to be used.

Making a light paste of baking soda and water and then applying them to skin area that have been affected by acne helps to relieve the acne within 2-3 days. All you have to do is to apply the paste continuously and leave it to dry for 10-20 minutes. Various chemical and physical properties of baking soda can be figured out by understanding its formula which contain elements and metals, with distinct properties.