Molecular Structure of Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate may be synthesized by reacting sodium hydroxide with carbonic acid. The reaction is written most simply:
1. NaOH + H₂CO₃ ' NaHCO₃ + H₂O
The image provides a visualization of the structure of sodium bicarbonate.
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Acid Salt
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Sodium bicarbonate, itself, can be reacted with a second molecule of sodium hydroxide, to produce sodium carbonate, thus:
2. NaOH + NaHCO₃ ' Na₂CO₃ + H₂O
For the purpose of this article, however, the first reaction is the desired one. The product of that reaction is the half-acid, half-salt, sodium bicarbonate or sodium acid carbonate.
Cooking
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Sodium bicarbonate has many uses. Its most common use is in food applications. Many food ingredients are at least mildly acidic and so react with sodium bicarbonate, producing carbon dioxide gas, which creates a "rising" process.
Sodium bicarbonate reduces the cooking time necessary when boiling vegetables. It also helps the vegetables to retain their color. A 1943 study cited in the "Journal of Nutrition" by Cornelia H. Johnston et al. says that fresh peas, if they are not overcooked, do not suffer noticeable loss of nutritive value due to sodium bicarbonate in the cooking water.
Sodium bicarbonate content needs to be figured into the total sodium for those having requiring a sodium-restricted diet.
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Odor Control and Cleaning
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Sodium bicarbonate is useful for odor control in environments where the odors contain an acid component that is neutralized. Boxes are often used in refrigerators or freezers.
Dipping a lightly moist rag or sponge into crystalline sodium bicarbonate powder and then rubbing an object offers a very gentle polish for surfaces that might be damaged by stronger methods.
Medicine
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Aqueous solutions of sodium bicarbonate are useful as medical rinses. This is because sodium bicarbonate can neutralize acids, yet it possesses a very mild pH value for an alkali.
Sodium bicarbonate 5 percent can be administered by injection to serve as a systemic alkalizer, or when electrolytes are needed.
Other medicinal uses include as an antacid (by the familiar term "bicarb of soda") and for kidney disorders.
Dentistry
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Some dentists and many individuals have adopted the use of sodium bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide in place of the more traditional oral hygiene procedures. This practice is controversial, as some studies indicate there is no advantage in making the trade-off.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sodium bicarbonate structure; image by author
