Sodium Bicarbonate with Hydrogen

Sodium bicarbonate is a white crystalline solid that often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline flavour similar to washing soda (sodium carbonate). Nahcolite is the natural mineral form. It is a constituent of the mineral natron and can be found dissolved in a variety of mineral springs.

Structure of sodium bicarbonate:

Sodium bicarbonate molecules are made up of sodium cations and bicarbonate anions. The bicarbonate ion is made up of a central carbon atom that is doubly bonded to oxygen and singly bonded to ahydrogen. The fourth covalent bond is formed by carbon with an oxygen anion that is ionically bonded to a sodium cation.

At room temperature, sodium hydrogen carbonate is a white solid. It is a crystalline compound that can also be found as fine powder. Other physical properties include the fact that it is odourless and water soluble. Because of its alkaline nature, sodium bicarbonate has a slightly bitter taste. Sodium bicarbonate occurs naturally in the form of nahcolite. It is found as a precipitate in saline lakes and hot springs, among other places.

Nomenclature:

Because it has been around for a long time and is widely used, the salt is known by many different names, including baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, and bicarbonate of soda, and can be found in stores near baking powder. The prefix bi in bicarbonate derives from a pre-molecular naming system in reference to the two molar equivalents of carbon dioxide (known as carbonic acid in ancient chemistry) that potassium hydrocarbonate/bicarbonate releases upon decomposition to (di)potassium carbonate and potassium oxide (potash). These compounds’ modern chemical formulas now express their precise chemical compositions, which were unknown when the term “bicarbonate of potash” was coined.

Chemical properties of NaHCO3:

When sodium bicarbonate is dissolved in water, it separates into sodium (Na+) and bicarbonate ions, or charged particles (HCO3). As demonstrated below, bicarbonate ions react with acids. The sign (aq), which stands for aqueous, indicates that the substance is dissolved in water; (g) stands for gas, and (l) stands for liquid. Acids produce hydrogen ions (H+).

H+(aq) + HCO3– → H2CO3 (aq) → H2O (1) + CO2(g).

One hydrogen ion and one bicarbonate ion combine to form a molecule of liquid water and a molecule of carbon dioxide gas, as seen above.

When sodium bicarbonate reacts with acetic acid (found in vinegar), sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide are produced:

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

Carbonates are formed when sodium bicarbonate reacts with bases such as sodium hydroxide:

NaHCO3 + NaOH → Na2CO3 + H2O

Thermal decomposition:

Sodium bicarbonate gradually decomposes at temperatures ranging from 80–100 °C (176–212 °F) into sodium carbonate, water, and carbon dioxide. At 200 °C (392 °F), the conversion is faster:

2 NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

This dehydration reaction occurs in the majority of bicarbonates. Further heating (above 850 °C/1,560 °F) converts the carbonate to the oxide:

Na2CO3 → Na2O + CO2

These conversions are important because NaHCO3 is used as a fire suppressant (“BC powder”) in some dry-powder fire extinguishers.

Uses of NaHCO3:

Baking soda: Sodium bicarbonate’s primary application is as baking soda. It is mixed with cream of tartar (tartaric acid) to make baking powder, which is used in doughs to make cakes, bread, and other baked goods. The acid causes the bicarbonate to thermally decompose, releasing CO2 and causing the dough to rise and become fluffy and soft.Tartaric acid also serves another purpose in baking powder by preventing a metallic taste from the sodium carbonate formed during the chemical reaction.

Antacid: Another important application for sodium bicarbonate is as an antacid. It acts as a basic medium in the stomach, neutralising excess hydrochloric acid. It may be used to treat stomach or duodenal ulcer symptoms.

To relieve constipation, a laxative made of sodium bicarbonate and polyethylene glycol dissolved in water is used before gastric and intestinal surgeries.

In laboratories, NaHCO3 is routinely used to neutralise acid spills due to its mildly alkaline nature.In the kitchen, sodium bicarbonate serves several functions. It is used in the breading of food prior to frying to give the fried item a crisper flavour. Baking soda is used to soften beans before cooking with them. It is also used to soften meat in some parts of the world.

As a disinfectant: Baking soda is a mild disinfectant as well as an effective fungicide.In pools and gardens, NaHCO3 is used to raise the pH. When there are insufficient bicarbonate ions, it is also used to modulate blood pH.

Fire extinguisher: In the event of a small electrical or grease fire, sodium bicarbonate can be used quite effectively in fire extinguishers. It suppresses the fire by acting as a dry chemical agent, releasing CO2.

Oral hygiene: Sodium bicarbonate is a widely used chemical in oral hygiene. It is found in toothpaste and is used to whiten teeth by removing plaque. Because of its abrasive and antiseptic properties, it is also used in mouthwashes.

Conclusion:

Because of its numerous applications, the component is known by a variety of names, including bicarbonate of soda, bread soda, cooking soda, and baking soda. In the United States, baking soda is a more generic term. Bicarbonate of soda, on the other hand, is more common in Australia and the United Kingdom.In common parlance, sodium bicarbonate and bicarbonate of soda are synonyms. Furthermore, it is found in sodium bicarb, bicarb soda, bicarbonate, and bicarb, all of which are common.