Explain the difference in baking soda and washing soda
Answers
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is the common name of sodium carbonate. This is the key difference between baking soda and washing soda. Moreover, Chemical formula of baking soda is NaHCO3, and the chemical formula of washing soda is NaCO3.
As another important difference between baking soda and washing soda, we can say that the washing soda is highly alkaline compared to baking soda. Washing soda has a pH value of 11, and the pH value of baking soda is around 8. Furthermore, a very significant difference between baking soda and washing soda based on application is that we use washing soda mainly to remove the stain from laundry, whereas baking soda is mainly used in the bakery industry.
Two important uses of washing soda are:
→ It is used in glass, soap, and paper industries.
→ It is used to remove permanent hardness of water.
Two important uses of baking soda are:
→ It is used as baking powder. Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and a mild acid known as tartaric acid. When it is heated or mixed in water, it releases CO2 that makes bread or cake fluffy.
→ It is used in soda-acid fire extinguishers.