Question

Give the name of the elements present in baking powder.

Answer 1

Hint: Baking powder is a white powder-like substance tasting almost neutral in taste as it consists of both acids and base. Baking powder releases carbon dioxide due to the acid-base reaction of it which leads to the production of a neutral salt, taste, and almost neutral gas. The first-ever recorded baking powder was prepared by Alfred Bird in England in the early nineteenth century.

Complete answer:
The baking powder consists of sodium having a symbol as ( $Na$ ), hydrogen having a symbol as ( $H$ ), carbon having a symbol as ( $C$ ), and oxygen having a symbol as ( $O$ ), having the chemical formula as $NaHC{O_3}$ . The chemical name of baking powder is sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate.
The chemical reaction for the preparation of baking powder is as follows: -
$NaCl + {H_2}O + C{O_2} + N{H_3} \to N{H_4}Cl + NaHC{O_3}$
Where $NaCl$ is sodium chloride, ${H_2}O$ is water, $C{O_2}$ is carbon dioxide, $N{H_3}$ is ammonia, $N{H_4}Cl$ is ammonium chloride, and $NaHC{O_3}$ is sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate i.e., our main product.
Baking powder is a mild non-corrosive base. When we use baking powder in cooking the following reaction takes place, that is the reaction that takes place when baking powder is heated is as follows: -
\[NaHC{O_3}\xrightarrow{{heat}}N{a_2}C{O_3} + {H_2}O + C{O_2}\]
Where $NaHC{O_3}$ is sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate, and $N{a_2}C{O_3}$ is sodium carbonate.

Note:
Baking powder is in breads and cakes to rise to make them soft and spongy, for this carbon dioxide is released by the baking powder when treated with edible acids like tartaric acid. Is used as medicine to cure acidity as the baking powder is an antacid, it neutralizes the excess acid in the stomach. Baking powder is also used in fire extinguishers as it releases carbon dioxide.