Sodium Bicarbonate (Nahco3) - Uses, Formula, Properties, FAQs

Q- What is sodium bicarbonate ?

NaHCO₃ which indicates the nomenclature of Sodium bicarbonate ( and its IUPAC name will be sodium hydrogen carbonate) that is commonly referred as bicarbonate of soda or baking soda. Baking soda is a type of salt that comprises of a sodium cation i.e. Na+ with a bicarbonate anion HCO₃⁻. Sodium bicarbonate, whose color is white and occurs in a solid state that is crystalline, but several times it will also found in form of powder. It comprises of slightly salty taste and taste of alkaline as like washing soda that is also known as sodium carbonate. It is also a component of the mineral i.e.. natron and it is also found in dissolved form in many of the mineral springs.

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Q- Sodium bicarbonate common name?

Sodium bicarbonate is commonly refers as bicarbonate of soda or baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate which is an amphoteric compound when allows to form aqueous solutions, then their solution are mildly alkaline because of the formation of carbonic acid and hydroxide ion within the solution and the reaction is given below:

HC O⁻₃ + H₂O → H₂CO₃ + OH⁻

Q- What is the common name of sodium hydrogen carbonate?

Sodium bicarbonate is commonly refers as bicarbonate of soda or baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate is also used as a wash material to remove any acidic impurities that is present in the from a crude liquid and helps in producing a purified sample. Reaction of sodium bicarbonate with an acid will produces a salt and also a carbonic acid, which readily undergoes decomposes to form carbon dioxide and water:

NaHCO₃ + HCl → NaCl + H₂CO₃

H₂CO₃→ H₂O + CO₂(g)

Sodium bicarbonate when allows to reacts with acetic acid ( also found in vinegar) will produce sodium acetate with water, and also carbon dioxide:

NaHCO₃ + CH₃COOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂ (g)

Sodium bicarbonate when allows to react with bases like sodium hydroxide then it will forms carbonates as a product:

NaHCO₃ + NaOH → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O

Q- Sodium bicarbonate uses?

Thermal decomposition

At temperatures ranging from 80–100 °C sodium bicarbonates will normally decomposes to form sodium carbonate with water and carbon dioxide. The conversion to carbon dioxide and water will be faster when the temperature attains to be at 200 °C

2 NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂

Most bicarbonates can undergo this type of dehydration reaction. Further heating will changes the carbonate to form oxide.

Na₂CO₃ → Na₂O + CO₂

These above mentioned conversions are very relevant for the use of NaHCO₃ as a fire-suppression agent.

Cooking

Generally baking soda is used in cooking as a leavening agent. When it reacts with acid then carbon dioxide will be released, which will cause expansion of the batter and also forms the characteristic texture within cakes and many other baked and fried foods. The acid –base reaction of sodium hydrogen carbon can be shows as follows:

NaHCO₃ + H⁺ → Na⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O

Baking soda can also be used with sourdough which has acidic property for making a lighter product that will includes a less acidic taste. Sodium hydrogen carbonate will also releases carbon dioxide and water when heated and the reaction will be as follows:-

2 NaHCO₃ → Na₂ CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂

Baking powder

Baking powder that is also sold for cooking purposes, contains nearly 30% of bicarbonate salt, and other acidic ingredients that are activated with the addition of water, and without the need for additional acids for activating in the cooking medium. Many different types of baking powder that contains sodium bicarbonate combined with calcium acid phosphate. Baking soda is alkaline and it gets activated when it is mixed with acid. This helps in fluffiness of the baked food by producing carbon dioxide.

Pyrotechnics

Black snake fireworks use sodium bicarbonate as the major component. In general it is caused due to the thermal decomposition of sodium hydrogen carbonate and will produce carbon dioxide gas that will produce a long snake - like ash due to the combustion product of sucrose. Sodium bicarbonate, also plays an important role to delay the process of combustion reactions by releasing CO₂ and H₂O when heated and both of them are flame retardants.

Mild disinfectant

Sodium hydrogen carbonate has property of weak disinfectant, and it may also be an effective fungicide again some of the organisms. Because of the reason that baking soda can absorbs musty smells, it has become a reliable method to be used by book sellers which helps in making books less malodorous.

Fire extinguisher

Sodium bicarbonate will be used to extinguish small grease or electrical fires by allowing them to be thrown over the fire, it can be used as an extinguisher because heating of sodium bicarbonate releases carbon dioxide. But, it will not be applied to control fires in deep fryers because due to the sudden release of gas grease may splatter. Sodium bicarbonate is also used as dry chemical in fire extinguishers as an alternative in respect to the more corrosive diammonium phosphate that are used in ABC extinguishers.

Due to the alkaline nature of sodium bicarbonate, it is the only one dry chemical agent with respect to Purple-K, that will be used in large - scale for fire suppression systems that are generally installed in commercial kitchens. Because of its alkaline property, the agent will shows a mild saponification effect on hot grease, which are capable to form a smothering and soapy foam.

Also, students can refer,

• NCERT solutions for Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 10 The S-Block Elements
• NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Chemistry Solutions Chapter 10 The S-Block Elements
• NCERT notes Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 10 The S-Block Elements

Neutralization of acids

Sodium bicarbonate, due to alkaline nature reacts with acids, and releases CO₂ gas as a post reaction product. It is generally used to neutralize unwanted acid solutions and also used to neutralize acid spills in chemical laboratories. It is to be noted that we can not use sodium bicarbonate to neutralize base even though it shows amphoteric properties (can react with both acids as well as bases)

Medical uses and health

Sodium bicarbonate when mixed with water can be used as an antacid for the treatment of acid indigestion and heartburn. Its reaction with stomach acid are given below :-

NaHCO₃ + HCl → NaCl + H₂O + CO₂ (g)

Q- Properties of baking soda?

Sodium bicarbonate which is an amphoteric compound when allows to form aqueous solutions, then their solution are mildly alkaline because of the formation of carbonic acid and hydroxide ion within the solution and the reaction is given below:

HC O⁻₃ + H₂ O → H₂CO₃ + OH⁻

Sodium bicarbonate, whose color is white and occurs in solid state that is crystalline, but several times it will also be found in form of powder. It comprises a slightly salty taste and taste of alkaline as like washing soda that is also known as sodium carbonate. It is also a component of the mineral i.e. natron and it is also found in dissolved form in many of the mineral springs. Sodium bicarbonate when allows to reacts with acetic acid ( also found in vinegar) will produce sodium acetate with water, and also carbon dioxide:

NaHCO₃ + CH₃COOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂ (g)

Sodium bicarbonate when allows to react with bases like sodium hydroxide then it will forms carbonates as a product:

NaHCO₃ + NaOH → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O

Note:

• NaHCO₃ chemical name/ NaHCO₃ compound name is sodium bicarbonate

• NaHCO₃ molar mass is 84.007 g/mol

• Sodium bicarbonate ph is 8.5

• NaHCO₃ name is sodium bicarbonate or baking soda

Also check-

• NCERT Exemplar Class 11th Chemistry Solutions
• NCERT Exemplar Class 12th Chemistry Solutions
• NCERT Exemplar Solutions for All Subjects

NCERT Chemistry Notes:

• NCERT Notes Class 11th Chemistry
• NCERT Notes Class 12th Chemistry
• NCERT Notes For All Subjects