What Is the Chemical Name of Baking Soda?

Question: What Is the Chemical Name of Baking Soda?

A. Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
B. Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)
C. Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃)
D. Potassium Bicarbonate (KHCO3)

Answer: Option B

The Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) is the chemical name of Baking Soda. It is a mild alkaline compound with many of applications in cleaning, cooking, and medicine. Baking soda is used as a leavening agent in baking because it reacts with acids to release carbon dioxide gas.

It is made up of a sodium ion (Na⁺) and a bicarbonate ion (HCO₃⁻). It is typically a white, crystalline solid but often appears as a fine powder. Its natural mineral form is called nahcolite.

The term "bicarbonate" originates from an older naming system. This name reflects the fact that sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) has twice the carbonate content per sodium atom compared to sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃). Today, the accurate chemical names for these compounds are sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃) and sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃).

The following are some key facts about baking soda:

• The baking soda formula is NaHCO₃.
• Baking soda’s IUPAC name is Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate.
• The common uses of baking soda is baking, cleaning, neutralizing acids, and fire extinguishers.
• It is used in laboratories for experiments and in industries for producing various products.

Understanding such basic science facts is essential for competitive exams, especially in the general science section.

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