Question

Explain the reaction taking place when baking powder is used in dough for making dough ,cake etc.

Answer 1

Baking powder contains baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and a dry acid (cream of tartar or sodium aluminum sulfate). When liquid is added to a baking recipe, these two ingredients react to form bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.

The reaction that occurs between sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and cream of tartar (KHC4H4O6) is:

NaHCO3 + KHC4H4O6 → KNaC4H4O6 + H2O + CO2

Sodium bicarbonate and sodium aluminum sulfate (NaAl(SO4)2) react in a similar manner:

3 NaHCO3 + NaAl(SO4)2 → Al(OH)3 + 2 Na2SO4 + 3 CO2