natriumbikabonat

Natriumbikabonat, known in English as sodium bicarbonate or baking soda, is a white crystalline powder with the chemical formula NaHCO3. It is mildly alkaline and dissolves in water to give a solution with a pH around 8.3; when heated, it decomposes to sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and water.

Industrially, natriumbikabonat is produced mainly by reacting sodium carbonate with carbon dioxide in water, or through processes related to the Solvay method. It also occurs naturally as the mineral nahcolite and has been mined in several regions for industrial use.

In food and health applications, natriumbikabonat serves as a leavening agent in baking and as an antacid to relieve heartburn or indigestion. It is used as a cleaning agent and deodorizer in households, and as a gentle abrasive in toothpaste. It also functions as a buffering agent in various industrial processes, in pool chemistry to calibrate pH, and in some personal care products.

Safety and handling considerations are generally favorable for typical consumer uses. Ingestion in large quantities can disrupt electrolyte balance and cause metabolic alkalosis; inhalation of fine dust may irritate the respiratory tract. It reacts with acids to release carbon dioxide, so care is advised when mixing with acidic substances or in confined spaces with reactive materials. Natriumbikabonat is widely regarded as safe when used appropriately.