What is baking soda
Baking soda is classified as a salt and helps to reduce alkalinity and acidity. Due to its neutralizing properties, bicarbonate has numerous uses
"baking soda shoot in studio" (CC BY 2.0) by aqua.mech
Sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound that appears as a white or slightly pink crystalline solid. Also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate or even as sodium bicarbonate, its molecular formula is defined by NaHCO3 . Bicarbonate is classified as a salt because it is highly soluble in water, but when heated to more than 50°C, it begins to decompose, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2).
It is considered a neutralizing agent, which helps to reduce alkalinity and acidity, neutralizing the medium to the nearest pH (hydrogen potential) 7, which is the neutral value on a scale from 0 to 14 - values below 7 are considered acidic and values above 7 are basic (or alkaline), with 7 being a neutral pH value, neither acidic nor basic, that is, in equilibrium. Water, for example, is a neutral compound and has an approximate pH of 6.8 to 7.2 (see more about pH and learn how to make a homemade pH meter in the article "Do it yourself: pH meter").
In addition, baking soda has the ability to further delay changes in pH balance, which also makes it known in chemistry as a buffering agent. This dual ability to neutralize and buffer are the most striking properties of salt, which help to understand what bicarbonate is. It is thanks to them that bicarbonate has so many different uses.
What is bicarbonate for?
Baking soda can be used in several homemade formulas, having cleaning, health and beauty uses. When mixed with vinegar, salt, lemon and water it forms a sustainable and effective blend to replace conventional cleaning products.
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Due to its slightly alkaline pH, baking soda helps to combat minor irritations, such as insect bites, cold sore, heartburn and sore throat. Among its uses for beauty, it can be used to make homemade deodorant, shaving cream, mouthwash, shampoo for oily hair and even a shampoo and conditioner for dry hair.
Check out the video on how to make an efficient cleaning product using baking soda:In the case of homemade beauty products, it is important to be careful with the dosages, as bicarbonate has a strong action. Recipes with baking soda to whiten teeth, for example, are very common in Internet, but require attention. The product is used by dentists in professional whitening formulas, but in controlled doses. In homemade recipes, it is difficult to control the dosage and the frequency with which the product will be applied, causing the effect of the bicarbonate to end up being very abrasive to the tooth enamel. Understand the problem better in the article: "Does bicarbonate whiten teeth?". Learn about eight at-home teeth whitening methods that don't involve the use of baking soda.
Baking soda is also useful in the kitchen and for cooking recipes. It works as a more effective yeast than conventional ones and is great for more aerated recipes like sponge cake and honey bread. To get rid of the bad smell in the refrigerator, a tip is to mix a quarter cup of water with two tablespoons of baking soda and clean it with a cloth. You can also use it to clean the oven, to remove grease and to clean the drain. Salt also facilitates the process of peeling a hard-boiled egg and even helps to remove pesticides present in food.
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It is important not to overdose, especially when applying the bicarbonate to any part of your own body. Follow the instructions of the linked materials and remember to purchase baking soda from a reliable manufacturer, as this is the only way to ensure that the product is natural and that it has not harmed the environment in its manufacturing process.
