Baking powder, also used in cooking, contains about 30% bicarbonate and various acidic components, and is activated by adding water without adding additional acid to the cooking medium. [19][20][21] Many forms of baking powder contain sodium bicarbonate and calcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, or cream of tartar. [22] Baking soda is alkaline; the acid used in baking powder avoids the metallic taste while chemical changes in the baking process create sodium carbonate. [twenty three]
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the main ingredients in the common "Black Snake" fireworks. The effect is caused by thermal decomposition, which produces carbon dioxide gas, which creates a long, snake-like ash as a product of the combustion of the other main ingredient, sucrose. [24] Sodium bicarbonate is also used to delay combustion reactions by releasing CO2 and H2O when heated, both of which are flame retardants.
Sodium bicarbonate can be used to extinguish small grease or electrical fires by throwing it on the fire, as heating sodium bicarbonate releases carbon dioxide. [29] However, it should not be used over a fire in a deep fryer; the sudden release of gas may cause grease to splatter. [29] Sodium bicarbonate is used in BC dry chemical extinguishers as a replacement for the more aggressive monoammonium phosphate in ABC extinguishers. The alkalinity of sodium bicarbonate makes it the only dry chemical, other than Purple-K, used in large fire suppression systems installed in commercial kitchens. Because it acts as a base, the agent has a mild saponifying effect on hot oils, forming a choking soap suds.
A mixture of sodium bicarbonate and polyethylene glycol, such as PegLyte, [34] dissolved in water and administered orally, is an effective gastrointestinal lavage preparation and laxative prior to gastrointestinal surgery, gastroscopy, etc. [citation needed]
Intravenous sodium bicarbonate solution is sometimes used in cases of acidosis, or when there is not enough sodium or bicarbonate ions in the blood. [35] In the case of respiratory acidosis, infused bicarbonate ions drive the carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffer in plasma to the left, raising the pH. Therefore, sodium bicarbonate is used in medically supervised CPR. Bicarbonate infusions are only required when blood pH is significantly low ( 7.1–7.0). [36]
HCO3− is used to treat hyperkalemia because it drives K+ back into cells during acidosis. [37] Because sodium bicarbonate can cause alkalosis, it is sometimes used to treat aspirin。
