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  • Word comparison: sodium carbonate vs. sodium bicarbonate

sodium carbonate vs. sodium bicarbonate

sodium carbonate vs. sodium bicarbonate: 's the difference?

Sodium bicarbonate refers to a chemical compound derived from sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, is also called soda ash and is used in manufacturing and cleaning. Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, is also known as baking soda and is made by reacting sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide. It’s used in baking as a leavening agent and also in medicine as an antacid.

sodium carbonate

noun

Chemistry.
  1. Also called soda ash. an anhydrous, grayish-white, odorless, water-soluble powder, Na 2 CO 3 , usually obtained by the Solvay process and containing about 1 percent of impurities consisting of sulfates, chlorides, and bicarbonates of sodium: used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, soaps, paper, petroleum products, sodium salts, as a cleanser, for bleaching, and in water treatment.
  2. Also called sal soda, soda, washing soda. the decahydrated form of this salt, Na 2 CO 3 ⋅10 2 O, used similarly.
  3. the monohydrated form of this salt, Na 2 CO 3 ⋅H 2 O, used similarly, especially in photography.

sodium bicarbonate

noun

Chemistry, Pharmacology.
  1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble solid, in powder or granules, NaHCO 3 , usually prepared by the reaction of soda ash with carbon dioxide or obtained from the intermediate product of the Solvay process by purification: used chiefly in the manufacture of sodium salts, baking powder, and beverages, as a laboratory reagent, as a fire extinguisher, and in medicine as an antacid.