Question

The $pH$ of a salt used to make any food item is 14.
a)Identify the salt and write a chemical equation for its formation.
b)List its two uses.

Answer 1

Hint: Here we have been given that the compound is used to make food items. The $pH$ of the compound is given to be 14. It is also given that the compound is not an acid or a base, but is a salt. We should propose a way in which the compound is synthesised and also mention any two of its uses.

Complete step by step solution:
a)The salt with a $pH$ of 14 is sodium bicarbonate ( $NaHC{O_3}$ ), commonly known as baking soda. The formation of sodium bicarbonate or baking soda can be depicted using the following equation:
$N{a_2}C{O_3} + C{O_2} + {H_2}O \to 2NaHC{O_3}$
b)Uses of baking soda:
1.It is used as an antacid, which helps to neutralise acid produced in the stomach and to relieve the discomfort caused by gastric acidity.
2.It is used in fire extinguishers to put out fire.

Additional Information:
Some of the common names of sodium bicarbonate include baking soda, cooking soda, or bread soda. The IUPAC name is sodium hydrogen carbonate with a chemical formula $NaHC{O_3}$ . It is a salt with sodium ion ( $N{a^ + }$ ) as cation and bicarbonate ion ( $HCO_3^ - $ ) as anion. It is a white crystalline solid which appears to be a fine white powder with a salty taste similar to that of washing soda.
They are also used in cooking, as a fungicide ad disinfectant, cleaning agent, toothpaste etc.

Note: While writing a chemical equation, always make sure to balance the equation. Also, ensure that you write the correct chemical formula of the compound. People often get confused with baking soda ( $NaHC{O_3}$ ) and washing soda ( $N{a_2}C{O_3}$ ), as there is only a slight difference in their chemical formulae.