Question

Baking soda chemically is sodium bicarbonate $(NaHC{{O}_{3}})$.
A) True
B) False

Answer 1

The answer here lies in the basic concept of chemistry which includes the naming of the compound in the form of chemical name as well as in the form of common name and this concept will give you the required answer.

Complete Solution :
We have studied in our lower classes about the basic concepts of inorganic chemistry that deals with the writing of the names of inorganic compounds which is the chemical name and also about the common names and some of the trade names given for that particular compound.
Now let us see what baking soda means and what its actual chemical formula is.
- Baking soda is the most common and well known chemical which is edible, that is it is used for the baking of food and hence the name.
- Baking soda appears as white crystalline solid but it looks like fine powder.
- This is an amphoteric compound and the aqueous solutions of this are mildly alkaline because of the formation of carbonic acid and hydroxide ion.
- This soda reacts with acid to give salt and carbonic acid which readily decomposes to give carbon dioxide and water.
Therefore, based on these facts we can say that baking soda is made up of a combination of sodium cation and bicarbonate anion.
- Thus, the baking soda is the common name given for sodium bicarbonate that is $NaHC{{O}_{3}}$
Hence, the given statement is correct.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Note that baking soda and washing soda are the common names given and do not be confused about which compound has which common name. Sodium bicarbonate has a common name as baking soda and sodium carbonate that is $N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$ that is nothing but washing soda.