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Properties and Uses of Bicarbonate of Soda
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Properties and Uses of Bicarbonate of Soda
Baking Soda Bicarbonate Powerful Effects and Myriad Applications
Jan 9, 2009 © Harry P. Schlanger
Substance is known under a variety of names including baking soda. It is cheap, versatile and useful
around the home, kitchen, for the body and medicinal purposes.
The number of chemicals in the home abound. Chemistry is at
work in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and medicine cabinet.
Bicarbonate of Soda, or sodium bicarbonate is a most useful, versatile and cheaply available substance used in the home and for
personal use. Sodium bicarbonate
is obtained by chemical process during production or more directly by mining from the ore. It is mildly
alkaline and has a wide range of applications.
Bicarbonate of Soda - Many Names
The chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3 (see Fig 1). It is known under different household
names: baking soda, bicarbonate of soda, sodium bicarb or bicarb soda, etc., but better known to chemists as sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, sodium hydrogen
carbonate, and sodium acid carbonate.
Sodium bicarbonate is obtained by chemical process during production or more directly by mining from
the ore. It is mildly alkaline and has a wide range of applications.
Figure 1. Chemical Formula for Sodium Hydrogen
Carbonate (Sodium Bicarbonate)
History of Production
The ancient Egyptians first mined the natural deposit called natron, which contains mostly sodium
bicarbonate. The mixture was used as a cleansing agent such as soap. It was not until 1791 in France
that Leblanc artificially manufactured sodium bicarbonate as we know it today. Later, in 1846, two
bakers Dwight and Church refined the process of making baking soda from sodium carbonate and carbon
dioxide. The ammonia-soda process was developed into its modern form by Ernest Solvay during the 1860s.
As of 2001, baking soda is produced on the scale of about 100,000 ton/year (Wikipedia). It is mainly
prepared from the Solvay Process. However, commercial quantities are also produced from soda ash
mined in the form of the ore trona, which is dissolved in water and treated with carbon dioxide.
Sodium bicarbonate then precipitates as a solid. The main reaction is:
Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O -> 2NaHCO3
Key Properties of Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate has a number of interesting properties, which makes it so versatile and useful:
- Odourless, white crystalline solid or powder
- Slightly alkaline in solution
- Sparingly soluble in water
- Decomposes to sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide on heating
- Has relatively low toxicity
- Non-flammable
- The powder dust is not explosive
Applications of Bicarbonate of Soda
Bicarbonate of Soda, or baking soda is a weak base and therefore not a powerful detergent compared to a strong alkali, which
breaks down fat. However, it does remove dirt with the properties already alluded to. In order to
prevent any alkali from damaging your skin, rubber gloves should be worn.
For the Home:
- Cleaning agent - fridges, garbage disposals, etc.
- Water softener – use in washing machines and for washing dishes
- Deodorizing - shoes, footwear cupboards, carpet refresher
- Fire extinguisher – forms a smothering soapy foam
- Polishing - removes dirt without damaging high hardness materials such as stainless steel or iron
- Mixed with sugar - acts as an effective pesticide for roaches and silverfish
In the Kitchen:
- Baking – used as a leavening agent, the carbon dioxide generated makes the dough rise
- Cooking – quickly softens vegetables such as french beans and broccoli
For Care of the Body:
- Use as a teeth whitener - brush teeth with a paste of bicarb soda and water
- Sodium bicarbonate ear drops
- Stomach reliever - spoonful in cool glass of water
- Eczema reliever - half-cup in hot bath from 15 to 20 minutes
- Also god for the throat, painful gums, insect bites, and warts
- Has recently been used for cancer treatment
For Emergencies:
Bicarbonate of soda can neutralize or reduce acids in the blood, or urine. It may be used in emergency
medical situations (heart attacks, serious kidney or lung problems) to correct the normal acid-base
balance in the blood or as an aid in treating overdoses with certain types of medications.
Aluminium Impurities in Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate is a very versatile substance and the list of uses given is by no means exhaustive,
but represents some of the better known uses. People should be aware that when using for medicinal
purposes, producer's baking soda contains traces of aluminium. This author contacted one retailer who
quoted their sodium bicarbonate product obtained from mining indeed has aluminium, naturally occurring
at maximum levels of 0.2ppm (0.2 mg per kg).
The copyright of the article, Properties and Uses of Bicarbonate of Soda: Baking Soda Bicarbonate
Powerful Effects and Myriad Applications is owned by Harry P. Schlanger. Permission to republish in
print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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