(Baking Soda), NaHCO3:
Sodium hydrogen carbonate is known as baking soda because it decomposes on heating to generate bubbles of carbon dioxide (leaving holes in cakes or pastries and making them light and fluffy).
Sodium hydrogen carbonate is made by saturating a solution of sodium carbonate with carbon dioxide. The white crystalline powder of sodium hydrogen carbonate, being less soluble, gets separated out.
Uses:
(i) Sodium hydrogen carbonate is a mild antiseptic for skin infections.
(ii) It is used in fire extinguishers.
