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Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium Bicarbonate Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate (chemical formula NaHCO₃), also called baking soda or sodium hydrogen carbonate is a commonly uses effervescent salt or compound for cooking, laundry, and medicine. It can break down in water to form sodium and carbonate ions. Sodium carbonate can be produced by using sodium chloride, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. Sodium hydrogen carbonate is the mild non-corrosive base that is the main constituent of baking powder. For making backing power, sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate can be mixed with a mild edible acid such as tartaric acid. Baking soda breaks down into sodium carbonate (washing soda), water, and carbon dioxide during cooking and it turns into sodium oxide at a higher temperature level.

The aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate is alkaline in nature due to the formation of carbonic acid and a hydroxide ion. The pH of sodium bicarbonate is 8.3. Therefore, it can change the colour of methyl orange into yellow but no colour change can occur for phenolphthalein.

Bicarbonate or baking soda is a white crystalline solid powder used to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion by neutralizing excess stomach acid. Backing soda can increase the blood pressure of your body. Therefore, it is unsafe for people who already have high blood pressure levels.

Structure of Sodium Bicarbonate

The chemical formula of sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO₃. Therefore, a positively charged sodium ion and a negatively charged bicarbonate ion combine by ionic bonding to form a sodium bicarbonate molecule. It is a monoclinic crystal lattice that is formed by one sodium, one carbon, one hydrogen, and three oxygen atoms.

Natural Occurrence

Large deposits of sodium bicarbonate are found in the United States, Botswana Kenya, Uganda, Turkey, and Mexico. It occurs in nature either nahcolite or trona.

A huge amount of natural deposit of trona is found in Green River, Wyoming USA. Such natural deposits are increasing due to environmental pollution caused by the alkali and chlorinated industries.

Properties

Sodium bicarbonate is an odorless white crystalline powder or lump. It is stable in dry air but decomposes slowly in a moist atmosphere.

Solid sodium bicarbonate is partially dissolved in water. The solid form has an infinite chain of unsymmetrical hydrogen bonds. The lower solubility of NaHCO₃ is probably due to its hydrogen bonding structure.

Sodium Bicarbonate pH

The aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate is slightly alkaline due to the formation of carbonic acid and hydroxide ions.

NaHCO₃ + H₂O → H₂CO₃ + Na⁺ + OH⁻

Therefore, the pH of the freshly prepared 0.1 molar aqueous solution is 8.3 at 77 °F. Baking powder may temporarily relieve itching and irritation due to insect bites and stings of poison ivy, oak, or sumac.

IUPAC Name	Sodium hydrogen carbonate
Other Names	Sodium bicarbonate Baking soda Bicarb Bicarbonate of soda Nahcolite Natrium hydrogen carbonate Natron
Chemical Formula	NaHCO₃
Molar mass	84.0066 g mol⁻¹
Appearance	Odorless white crystalline powder or lump
Melting point	Sodium hydrogen carbonate or baking soda decomposes to sodium carbonate starting at 50 °C
Solubility	Soluble in water, methanol, and acetone but insoluble in ethanol
Acidity	Slightly alkaline in nature with a pH of freshly prepared 0.1 molar aqueous solution 8.3 at 77 °F or 25 °C
Crystal structure	Monoclinic
Heat capacity	87.6 J/mol K
Entropy	101.7 J/mol K at 298K
Gibbs free energy	−851.0 kJ/mol at 298K
CAS Number	144-55-8

Chemical Properties

Sodium bicarbonate is a mild neutralizer that is used sometimes to neutralize acids. The reaction of sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid forms sodium chloride, water, and carbon dioxide. Therefore, it is a safer alternative to strong bases like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

NaHCO₃ + HCl → NaCl + H₂O + CO₂

Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda reacts with organic acid acetic acid to form sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide.

NaHCO₃ + CH₃COOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂

When sodium bicarbonate reacts with strong base sodium hydroxide, it is converted to sodium carbonate and water.

NaHCO₃ + NaOH → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O

Sodium bicarbonate is amphoteric in nature. Therefore, in water, it produces carbonic acid and the hydroxide ion with a moderate alkaline pH.

NaHCO₃ + H₂O → H₂CO₃ + Na⁺ + OH⁻

Sodium bicarbonate can be progressively broken down into sodium carbonate, water, and carbon dioxide at temperatures between 80 and 100 °C. The production of water and carbon dioxide during heating can explain the fire-extinguishing properties of sodium bicarbonate.

2 NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂

Production Process

A French chemist, Nicolas Leblanc produced sodium carbonate in the year 1791. However, the New York bakers, Austin Church and John Dwight in 1846 started the first factory for the production of sodium bicarbonate or baking soda.

In the Solvay process, baking soda can be produced on a large scale by reacting cold and concentrated brine (sodium chloride) solutions with carbon dioxide and ammonia.

NaCl + H₂O + CO₂ + NH₃ → NH₄Cl + NaHCO₃

Large-scale industrial production of sodium bicarbonate or baking soda can be carried out from sodium carbonate. It can produced when sodium carbonate reacts with water and carbon dioxide.

Na₂CO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O → 2 NaHCO₃

A commercial level of baking soda may also obtained from soda ash, mined in the form of the ore trona. It dissolves in water and is treated with carbon dioxide to produce baking soda.

Uses of Baking Soda

The effervescent salty powder, sodium bicarbonate is an alkaline (slightly bitter tasting), white, crystalline substance. It is a multifunctional chemical compound used widely in cooking at home. Sodium bicarbonate is a common antacid and a food anticaking agent that is used commonly for treating indigestion. It is also used for extinguishing fire, effective disinfecting for fungicides, a neutralizer of acids, preventing the growth of fungi in agriculture, making medicines, making cleaning agents, etc.

Baking Soda for Cooking

Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is a popular baking ingredient for foods like bread, cakes, muffins, and cookies. Making baking powder for cooking, baking soda can be mixed with a mild edible acid such as tartaric acid. Carbon dioxide gas is evolved when baking powder is heated or mixed in water.

NaHCO₃ + H⁺ → CO₂ + H₂O + Na⁺

Carbon dioxide is produced during the reaction converting bred or cakes to spongy and soft. It is also used to wash kitchen units due to its mycobacterial activity.

Sodium hydrogen carbonate is an ingredient of antacids. Being alkaline, sodium hydrogen carbonate or baking soda neutralizes excess acid in the stomach and provides relief.

NaHCO₃ (s) + HCl (l) → NaCl (aq) + H₂O (l) + CO₂ (g)

Baking soda is used as a preservative for milk. In summer, milk decomposes and releases lactic acid which makes milk sour. When we added baking soda to the milk, it reacted with acid to form salt and water. Therefore, NaHCO₃ neutralizes the acidic effect of milk and it does not become sour.

Sodium Bicarbonate in Chemistry

Sodium hydrogen carbonate in chemistry is used commonly as a pH buffering agent, an electrolyte replenisher, and a systemic alkalizer. Therefore it is used in analytical chemistry as a buffering agent to adjust the pH of various solutions.

Using Baking Soda in Laundry

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a mild alkaline compound and commonly used cleaning substance for freshening and brightening clothes in the laundry. Adding baking soda to your wash may boost cleaning ability and remove stains. It can also help to neutralize odors, leaving your items looking brighter and smelling fresh. Therefore, baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a useful chemical substance in laundry rooms to boost:

Pretreat stains: Baking soda combined with water to form a paste. Such paste is used to remove any acidic stains like coffee, fruit juices, and blood.
Whiten and brighten clothes: When adding baking soda along with your detergent in the laundry can help brighten colorful fabrics. It may also prevent white garments from yellowing.
Neutralize the odor of clothes: We can use it to neutralize the odor of clothes we wear.
Soften water and fabrics: Baking powder is a softening agent that can soften water and fibers.
Enhance bleach and detergent: It enhances the activity of bleaching agents and detergents.

Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that can be used to clean a variety of stains caused by sweat, deodorant, grass, grease and oil, dried paint, crayon, ink, nail polish, and makeup. Baking soda is safe to use in most washing machines due to its deodorizing capabilities for both your washer and laundry. However, keep in mind various things before using baking soda in your laundry because it is sensitive to various fabrics like wool, cashmere, and silk.

Sodium Bicarbonate Uses in Medicine

In medical science, sodium bicarbonate or baking powder is used for treating various health conditions such as indigestion and heartburn, metabolic acidosis, drug intoxication, etc.

The mixture of sodium bicarbonate and water is used widely as an antacid to treat acid indigestion and heartburn because such a mixture reacts with stomach acid to form salt, carbon dioxide, and water.
Sodium bicarbonate is used for the treatment of metabolic acidosis caused by many health conditions such as renal disease, uncontrolled diabetes, extracorporeal circulation of the blood, cardiac arrest, etc. Metabolic acidosis is a condition where acidity in the body fluids increases and bicarbonate ions in the blood decrease.
An intravenous sodium bicarbonate or baking soda solution is used to increase plasma bicarbonate level, buffer excess hydrogen ion concentration, raise blood pH level, etc.
Sodium bicarbonate may also used for the treatment of certain drug intoxication. It is used commonly for treating intoxication caused by barbiturates classes of drugs and poisoning caused by salicylates or methyl alcohol.
Oral sodium bicarbonate can reduce the uric acid crystallization in your gout.
Baking powder can be used as an ingredient for making mouthwashes, cosmetics, animal feed additives, etc.

Fire Extinguisher

Sodium bicarbonate is a fire extinguisher that is used to extinguish small fires caused by grease or electric short-circuits. It can be thrown over the fire. When heating, it releases carbon dioxide and water which removes oxygen from the air and deprives the fire of heat.

Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda can also form intermediates that can scavenge the free radicals that are responsible for the propagation of fire caused by grease or electric short circuits. Fire extinguishers also contain sodium bicarbonate, sufuric acid, and water in the tank. When a person activates a fire extinguisher, these substances get mixed and produce carbon dioxide.

2 NaHCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → Na₂SO₄ + 2 H₂O + 2 CO₂

Other Uses

Sodium bicarbonate neutralizes acids by releasing CO₂ gas. Therefore, it is a neutralizing agent commonly used to neutralize unwanted acid solutions or acid spills in chemical laboratories.
Baking soda is an effective odor-removal substance that is used for producing mouthwash and dry or wet deodorant.
Sodium bicarbonate is a weak disinfectant and effective fungicide because it absorbs smasty smells. Therefore, booksellers can use it to make books less malodorous.
The cold water solution of sodium bicarbonate is used to remove paint and corrosion present on the surface of aluminum, copper, and steel.
As a buffering agent, sodium bicarbonate can be used to make cattle feed supplements.
Baking soda is a leavening agent that generates CO₂ when it reacts with acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice.
In sports, bicarbonate or baking soda is a supplement that helps to improve muscular endurance.
In agriculture, it is used to prevent fungi on leaves but excessive amounts can decoloration of leaves.
Bicarbonate may used for treating eye-related problems called blepharitis.

Sodium Bicarbonate Side Effects

As an antacid sodium bicarbonate relieves heartburn and stomach upset but it has many common and serious side effects. The most common side effects of bicarbonate include:

Feeling thirsty
Stomach cramps
Gas

If you suffer from high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney disease, you may have a higher risk of more serious side effects. The serious side effects may include:

Headaches
Loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting
Irritability
Weakness
Urge to urinate more frequently
Slowed breathing
Swelling in the feet or legs
Blood in the urine
Bloody or black stools

Baking soda comes as a tablet or power taken by our mouth. Taking baking soda may be unsafe during pregnancy because it can increase the risk of water retention or pH imbalances in the tissues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the uses of sodium bicarbonate?

Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is a common effervescent salt that is used widely in our cooking, making medicine, blending pH in the laboratory and our body fluids, cleaning clothes in the laundry or washing machine, kitchen cleaner, fire extinguishers, hygienic products, etc.

Along with cooking, baking soda or bicarbonate is a common and mild neutralizing agent that is used for making antacid medicine to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion by neutralizing excess stomach acid.

What does bicarbonate do in the body?

Sodium bicarbonate is a mid-base that helps to maintain the normal acid-base balance or pH level in your body. Therefore, drinking baking soda may temporarily relieve indigestion or heartburn caused due to acidity.

Along with H+, HCO₃⁻ is also generated from CO₂ and H₂O either spontaneously or by the catalytic activity of enzymes carbonic anhydrase. Therefore, bicarbonate ion is an important buffering agent in mammalian tissues and fluids. The most common biological role of bicarbonate ion may include:

Bicarbonate along with water, hydrogen, hemoglobin, phosphate, and carbon dioxide makes up the buffering system in our body.
HCO₃⁻ may maintain protein density in the heart and play important roles in the regulation of cardiac function.
Baking soda or sodium hydrogen carbonate helps to transport other ions and organic substances across the cell membranes.
In certain conditions, baking soda makes our blood and urine more alkaline.

Is sodium bicarbonate baking soda?

Yes, sodium bicarbonate is also called baking soda with the chemical formula NaHCO₃. This multifunctional chemical compound has different names such as baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, brewing soda, and bicarbonate of soda.

The name baking soda is more common in the United States while bicarbonate soda is most common in Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate can sold near your store with the name of baking powder.