What is the difference between sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate

It has the formula Na2CO3 and goes by the colloquial name "washing soda. One of its most common applications is in the industrial manufacturing of glass. With the chemical formula NaHCO3, sodium bicarbonate is structurally very similar to sodium carbonate. It's much less caustic, however, and is only a very mild base. It has many common household applications, including as a cleaning agent and as a leavening agent in baked goods.

You can also ingest sodium bicarbonate in water as a mild home remedy for acid stomach; it neutralizes stomach acid, relieving symptoms of heartburn and producing the harmless compounds carbon dioxide and water. Sodium carbonate has virtually no physiological importance; your body neither utilizes nor produces it. On the other hand, sodium bicarbonate is quite important to physiological function.

Despite the similarity in their names, these two substances are not identical and have many features and uses that differ greatly. Chemically, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate are very similar. Both are ionic compounds, which, when dissolved in water, release a positively charged sodium Na ion and negatively charged carbonate CO3 ion.

Sodium bicarbonate also includes a positively charged hydrogen H ion. Sodium bicarbonate is typically a white solid powder. It dissolves readily in water and acts as a weak base. Sodium carbonate is also a solid and a white powder. It is used in powder form for manufacturing and is a strong alkali.

Both substances are harmless when in contact with the skin but can cause irritation to the eyes. In low concentrations, neither is toxic if ingested.

Both sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate go by many different names. It is also diprotic, a term given to something that reacts with two equivalents of acids. After reacting to one equivalent of acid, it then converts to sodium bicarbonate, a monoprotic.

In terms of importance in the human body, sodium carbonate does not pose any effect, positive or otherwise. Meanwhile, sodium bicarbonate occurs naturally and is used to neutralize acidity in the blood. Both compounds are very useful in everyday life.

Sodium carbonate is utilized in manufacturing glass and soap. It is also used to neutralize chlorine in swimming pools and as a water softener. Sodium bicarbonate, on the other hand, is present in many chemical processes and is often used as a conductor.

In food, it is used as a lying agent to change the pH specifically the acidity of a certain food. Sodium bicarbonate is also an industrial staple used as a cleansing and exfoliating agent. In common households, it is utilized to neutralize odors and as an alternative fire extinguisher.

Sodium bicarbonate is also useful in the field of cooking and baking as a leavening agent. Cite APA 7 Franscisco,. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. This is why we call it bread soda. In fact, we can use sodium bicarbonate in the place of baking powder if acidic reagents are added. In earlier times, people used sodium bicarbonate for cooking as it made vegetables softer but now it is not in use as it destroys many vitamins and acids that are beneficial to us.

Sodium bicarbonate is an excellent exfoliating agent and hence it is very important for cleaning. It is commonly used in soaps and mouthwashes. Thus, it neutralizes the acid formation in the mouth and prevents teeth and gum decay. Sodium carbonate is a sodium salt of carbonic acid whereas sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is another salt of sodium.

Sodium carbonate contains sodium, carbon and oxygen atoms whereas the sodium bicarbonate contains sodium, carbon, oxygen atoms along with a hydrogen atom. This is the key difference between sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

Also, sodium carbonate has the chemical formula Na 2 CO 3 and the molar mass is The difference between sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate can be highlighted based on the usage as well.

The uses of sodium carbonate include using it as a water softener for laundering, in dyeing with fiber reactive dyes, for the manufacture of glass, paper, rayon, soaps and detergents. The uses of sodium bicarbonate include as a leavening agent for cooking, for the production of baking powder, as a pest control agent, to alkalinity is soil, etc. The below infographic presents the difference between sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate in tabular form for quick reference.

Sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate have nearly similar chemical structures with a slight difference. The difference between sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate is that sodium carbonate contains sodium, carbon and oxygen atoms whereas sodium bicarbonate contains sodium, carbon, oxygen atoms along with a hydrogen atom.