It's in almost every kitchen cupboard across the nation. You mix a spoonful in a glass of water to relieve an upset stomach. An open box at the back of your fridge will absorb odors.
Its name is NaHCO3, sodium bicarbonate or baking soda, although its proper chemical name is really sodium hydrogen carbonate... and today is its special day, when we celebrate its many uses.
Sodium bicarb is a very weak base, and will react with acids. This is why it is used in baking, especially with buttermilk or yogurt. What does it do? When heated, it reacts to form carbon dioxide bubbles, a gas, causing the batter to rise. Thus Baking Soda is a leavening agent.
I love, love, love baking soda. It is an essential ingredient in making CUPCAKES!
Here's a list of some uses of baking soda:
Baking- helps baked goods, like bread, Cupcakes! to rise
Relieve stomach indigestion and heartburn when mixed in water
Removing odors in the refrigerator, vents, storage areas, and closets
Removing odor in kitty litter
It is used in fire extinguishers for grease and oil fires
It is often used as a cleaning agent
It can be used as a meat tenderizer
Put it in water with beans to minimize flatulance from eating beans
Polish Silverware
Remove burned food from a pot or a pan
Clean your teeth - it can be used as a toothpaste substitute
Cleaning chemical spills since it will neutralise both acids and bases.
And, the list goes on, and on, and......
The Information is from WI and their DCT and they got their information from chemicalformula.org and holidayinsights.com!
30/12/10, 02:03 am
