Question

A.Name two constituents of baking powder.
B.How does baking powder differ from baking soda?
C.Explain the action of baking powder in the making of cake or bread. Write the equation of the reaction involved.

Answer 1

Hint: Mixture of baking soda and mild acid is baking powder. Baking powder in food is used for stuffing purposes due to the liberation of carbon dioxide gas by baking powder. Baking soda is widely used in the kitchen.

Complete step by step answer:
- Baking powder is formed with the help of baking soda. Baking powder is the mixture of baking soda and a mild edible acid such as tartaric acid.
- Baking soda is commonly used in the kitchen in our houses. The chemical name of the baking soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate that is \[{\text{NaHC}}{{\text{O}}_3}\]. Baking soda is produced using sodium chloride as one of the raw materials. Baking soda is a mild non corrosive base. On heating if baking soda, sodium carbonate is produced with the liberation of carbon dioxide. As we said, Baking soda is used to form baking powder.
- On the other hand, baking powder is used to make food soft and spongy. Baking powder is used for cooking purposes and also in laboratories. Baking soda is also an ingredient in antacids as it neutralizes the excess acid in the stomach on being mild.
- When baking soda is mixed with mild edible acid, baking powder is formed. This mixture is used in making food items like bread or cake to be soft and spongy. The action of baking powder or the reaction involved is: \[{\text{NaHC}}{{\text{O}}_3} + {{\text{H}}^ + } = {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}} + {\text{sodium salt of acid}}\]. The liberation of carbon dioxide helps to make bread or cake soft and spongy.

Note:
Sodium carbonate is formed by heating of baking soda; recrystallisation of sodium carbonate gives washing soda. It is also a basic salt.