Question

How can baking soda be converted into baking powder?
(a)- Adding nitric acid
(b)- Adding hydrochloric acid
(c)- Adding sulfuric acid
(d)- Adding tartaric acid

Answer 1

Baking soda is a chemical compound which is also known as sodium bicarbonate having formula $NaHC{{O}_{3}}$ and this can be converted into baking powder by adding a weak acid.

Complete step by step answer:
Baking soda is a chemical compound which is chemically known as sodium carbonate having the formula $NaHC{{O}_{3}}$. It is also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate and bicarbonate of soda.
It is made up of sodium cation ($N{{a}^{+}}$) and bicarbonate anion ($HCO_{3}^{-}$ ) so it is a salt. It is a fine powder that is white crystalline solid. Since it is a soda, it is alkaline in taste. So it is added to food. In baking, it is used as a leavening agent. The release of carbon dioxide takes place when it reacts with acid which expands the batter and gives airiness to the cake. But due to its alkaline taste, it makes the batter taste bitter. So the baking soda is converted into baking powder by adding a weak acid.
Specifically, tartaric acid is used to convert baking soda into the baking powder. It is used to neutralize the basic nature of sodium carbonate and the cake will not taste bitter.
So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note: When baking soda reacts with monocalcium phosphate it produces carbon dioxide. The reaction is given below:
$14NaHC{{O}_{3}}+5Ca({{H}_{2}}P{{O}_{4}})2{{H}_{2}}O\to 14C{{O}_{2}}+C{{a}_{5}}(P{{O}_{4}})3OH+7N{{a}_{2}}HP{{O}_{4}}+18{{H}_{2}}O$
Basically the baking powder contains 30% of bicarbonate.