Baking soda

Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), also known as edible alkali or sodium hydrogen carbonate. It is a common white crystalline powder with weak alkalinity.

Main Uses

1. Cooking and Baking

   • Leavening Agent: Reacts with acidic substances (such as lemon juice, vinegar, or yogurt) to produce carbon dioxide, causing dough or batter to rise. Used in making cakes, cookies, bread, etc.

   • Neutralizing Acidity: Adding a small amount can adjust the pH of food (e.g., reducing the acidity of tomatoes).

   • Meat Tenderizer: Adding a little baking soda when marinating meat can make it more tender (use in moderation to avoid bitterness).

2. Household Cleaning

   • Stain Removal: Mixed with water to form a paste, it can clean stovetops, sinks, and oven grease; removes tea and coffee stains from cups.

   • Deodorizing: Placed in refrigerators, trash cans, or shoe cabinets to absorb odors.

   • Unclogging Drains: Mixed with vinegar to produce bubbles that help break down minor clogs.

3. Personal Care

   • Mouth Rinse: Dissolved in water, it can temporarily relieve bad breath (not for frequent use as it may disrupt oral pH balance).

   • Skin Soothing: Added to bathwater to relieve minor skin irritation (e.g., mosquito bites), but those with sensitive skin should use with caution.

4. Other Uses

   • Fire Extinguishing: When heated, baking soda decomposes to produce carbon dioxide, which can be used to put out small oil fires (but it is not a substitute for professional fire extinguishers).

   • Gardening: Diluted and sprayed on plants to prevent fungal diseases (concentration should be tested carefully).