Difference Between Bicarbonate and Baking Soda

Bicarbonate vs Baking Soda

Bicarbonate and baking soda are both very important household components. They can be found in your kitchen, and they can be used for baking. Both these substances have the same elements present in each other. These two substances have carbon and oxygen in their formula. These are just some of the main reasons why people mistake them as the same.

Bicarbonate is a combination of different kinds of molecules to come up as an ion. The molecules present in bicarbonate are: three oxygen molecules, a hydrogen molecule, and one carbon molecule. With these molecules, it may also turn into a compound that has fewer protons and more electrons. The chemical formula for bicarbonate is HCO3. Bicarbonate plays a vital role in a human’s body. It maintains the balance in the acidity of the blood. It buffs the pH of your body making your blood not too acidic or too basic. It also plays a very important part in the digestive process inside your stomach. It can help check the digestive juices in your stomach after your stomach has finished digesting. Bicarbonate is also made through nature. When water from the rain hits the rock, it creates bicarbonate ions. The carbon cycle is very important, and the flow of bicarbonate makes this cycle go.

People tend to confuse baking soda with bicarbonate because the chemical term for baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is a crystalline, a substance that occurs naturally. This crystalline is usually seen in mineral springs. Its form is dissolved, and it is part of the mineral neutron. Another great use for this substance is as an acid base reactant in laboratory experiments. It can stop small fires, and it can be used for hygiene maintenance. Baking soda can also help in making your smelly fridge smell better, and it can take your heartburn away.

These are the definitions of each substance. With these definitions, it will be easy to point out the differences between each other. Even though they have plenty of similarities, like having the compound HCO3, their differences are still very significant.

SUMMARY:

1.Baking soda helps alleviate acid indigestion and heartburn problems while bicarbonate keeps the balance in the pH of your blood.

2.Bicarbonate will probably have more chemical reactions compared to sodium bicarbonate. This is because of the protons in the baking soda.

3.Baking soda needs a chemical reaction to be broken down while the bicarbonate, because of all its electrons, can easily have chemical reactions.

4.Bicarbonate can help make your digestive system healthier while baking soda can make your fridge smell better.

5.Bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate can be created by nature, but sodium bicarbonate can be created artificially.