CBSENEETClass 10
Is baking soda an acid or a base?
Answer
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃) is basic in nature because it is the salt of a strong base (NaOH) and a weak acid (carbonic acid).
The working
Identity
Baking soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate, NaHCO₃, a mild base and not an acid.
Why basic
It is formed from a strong base (NaOH) and a weak acid (H₂CO₃), so its aqueous solution is weakly alkaline with a pH slightly above 7.
Test
Its solution turns red litmus blue, confirming its basic character.
Uses
Being a mild, non-corrosive base, it is used in baking, in antacids to neutralise excess stomach acid, and in soda-acid fire extinguishers.
Searched about 1,200 times a month in IndiaSolve a similar doubt →
Stuck on something else?
Type your own doubt into the solver and get the full working in seconds — free, for physics, chemistry, maths and biology.
Open the solverRelated doubts