Bicarbonate of soda

The hydrogénocarbonate of sodium or bicarbonate of soda or bicarbonate of sodium have as a NaHCO₃ formula. It is a white compound, which is presented in the form of powder. In Canada, in the language running, it can be called the “small cow sometimes”. This because of the small cow represented on limp of bicarbonate of soda sold by the company " Cow Brand".

History

The Egyptians of antiquity used already the properties of the Natron, a mineral made up of sodium carbonate sodium and bicarbonate. They drew this substance from the evaporation of the salted lakes and employed it to rub the body, like a soap.

In 1791, a French chemist works out for the first time bicarbonate of soda, such as we know it today, however the refining of the Sodium carbonate to give sodium bicarbonate was developed in 1846 by two New Yorkean bakers: John Dwight and Austin Church.

Obtaining

The sodium bicarbonate can be obtained starting from layers of Natron.

The process with produced ammonia of the Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) starting from salt and Chalk. This sodium carbonate gives bicarbonate of soda according to the following reaction:

Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂ → 2 NaHCO₃

Properties

The sodium bicarbonate is Biodégradable and is not Toxique for the Environnement nor for the Santé.

The sodium bicarbonate should not be confused with the caustic Soude nor with the Sodium carbonate.

for the house:

cleaning agent;
water-softener;
deodorizer;
refreshes the carpets;
used in certain extinguishers with powder;
It can be used to extinguish a fire when the use of water is disadvised. For example for fires of crackling.

for the care of the body:

bleaches the teeth;
tenderizes the callus and of tiny room the itching caused by the foot of athlete;
used for the gargarisms;
calm evils of stomach, by drinking a preparation carried out with a spoonful with bicarbonate of soda soup in cool water glass;
calm the Eczema (a half-cup of bicarbonate of soda in a hot bath from 15 to 20 minutes);
calm sunstrokes with compresses soaked in a solution carried out with a spoonful with bicarbonate of soda soup in 25 water Cl.
also used for the buttons of fever, the painful gums, the evils of throat, the mycoses, the insect bites and the warts.

for the kitchen:

mixed with an acid in the Brewers' yeast, it releases from carbon dioxide, which makes the dishes better and more digestes;
facilitates the digestion of food;
thrown in ebullient water, it keeps their green color with vegetables cooked with water such as French beans or the Brocoli S.

other uses:

Anodization of the Aluminum;
gardening: Fungicidal (to fight against the Oïdium for example).

See too

Hydrogen carbonate ammonium

External bonds

1000 uses of the bicarbonate Solvay
Easy ways with bicarbonate of soda

Books

Martina Krčmár : the Bicarbonate, savors and virtues , ED. Grancher.

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