bicarbonate of soda / soda crystals

[Dot Net Developer]

"bicarbonate of soda" and "soda crystals" -- are they the same thing/ product?

[Andrew Gabriel]

"bicarbonate of soda" is Sodium Hydroden Carbonate. "soda crystals" are Sodium Carbonate, IIRC. "caustic soda" is Sodium Hydroxide.

Every few decades, chemists decide to change the way they name compounds, so I might not be using the names taught in chemistry lessons today. (Do they even have chemistry lessons today?)

[meow2222]

used for raising cakes & some bread, but is not baking powder

washing soda, a degreaser

very strong degreaser for unblocking drains and dissolving human remains.

Probably now questions like 'how do you feel about the politics of chemical E101'

NT

[Grunff]

And making soap.

That's vitamin B2. Good for you.

[Dot Net Developer]

Can it also be used as a general purpose cleaner (diluted in water)?

Can I use this (diluted) for - cleaning inside fridge & on the sofa? (Previously I used bicarbonate of soda.)

Thanks, regards, Robert

[dennis]

Use bicarb like the instructions say,after all it works and is safe as it is a food stuff.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Baking powder is Sodium Hydroden Carbonate diluted with flour so that the tiny amounts required can be reasonably accurately measured in a kitchen. In commercial cooking, it's used raw without dilution as more accurate measuring is used. It slowly neutralises acids from the other ingredients, reacting to produce CO2 responsible for raising. Bread is normally raised by yeast and sugar liberating CO2, but soda bread is an example where Sodium Hydroden Carbonate reacting with milk is used instead.

Yes. Particularly useful where you don't want any smell from a perfumed cleaner, such as inside a fridge, and you don't want any acid or alkali left behind. Sodium Hydroden Carbonate is good for neutralising acids and alkalis. Another traditional use in this area is for neutralising excess stomach acid.

Not sure. Why risk it -- sodium bicarbonate is so cheap?

[Dot Net Developer]

(diluted in water)?

The penny's just dropped as to why I can't find bicarbonate of soda in the supermarket - I've been looking in the cleaning products isle - I need to go to the home baking products isle!

[The Medway Handyman]

Isn't that sodium hydroxide? Saponification ISTR.

Sodium bicarbonate is also used as a blast media.

[<me9]

Same stuff. caustic soda is sodium hydroxide NaOH

[Andrew Gabriel]

You're responding out of context, because previous poster snipped an important line.

[The Medway Handyman]

I thought the PP was refering to bicarbonate of soda as per the header?

[Peter Parry]

Baking powder is usually a mixture of Bicarbonate of Soda and Tartaric Acid in the ratio 1:2.

Bicarbonate of Soda can, baking powder cannot.

Other than in fridges Bicarbonate of Soda isn't a terribly good cleaning agent and (if bought in small tubs from a supermarket) quite an expensive one.

I wouldn't use bicarbonate of soda on materials. Washing Soda is a fairly good general purpose cleaning agent but not for use in situ on fabrics.

[Grunff]

No, I was referring to sodium hydroxide, my snipping was poor.

It went:

Me: and making soap.

[The Medway Handyman]

Ah good! It wasn't the drink then :-)

[Dot Net Developer]

On 6 Oct, 22:05, Peter Parry wrote: (various snips)

Please explain. I've tried this (diluted in hot water, rubbed on with tea towel on to sofa) with good surprisingly good results. I'll try something else if there's either a problem with this, or a better way. Thanks.

[The Real Doctor]

It's very good for removing burnt-on-stuff from saucepans. Leave a paste of bicarb and water on for a few hours and bingo!

Ian

[Stuart Noble]

Bicarb isn't very soluble in water, and is quite abrasive as a powder, so I guess you might be slightly abrading your fabric. A carpet cleaner might be more suitable as not all stains and dirt respond to alkalis

[Dot Net Developer]

Thanks & thanks also for all replies.

[djc]

Not general purpose but very good for removing tannin from teapots and cups. Mix to a paste with a little water.

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