Baking soda, chemically named sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), is a mild alkaline inorganic compound. Classified by purity and usage, it is mainly divided into food-grade, medical-grade and industrial-grade types. Food-grade one meets edible safety standards with low impurity content. Medical-grade baking soda features higher purity for pharmaceutical application. Industrial-grade type contains more impurities and is only suitable for industrial production.
This odorless white crystalline powder has versatile applications thanks to its acid-neutralizing and thermal decomposition properties. In the food industry, food-grade baking soda acts as a common leavening agent. It releases carbon dioxide when reacting with acidic ingredients, making bread and biscuits fluffy. It is also added to beverages to produce fizz.
For household use, it serves as an eco-friendly cleaner and deodorizer. Its mild abrasiveness removes kitchen grease and bathroom stains, while it neutralizes odors in refrigerators and carpets. Medically, medical-grade baking soda can relieve mild stomach acid discomfort as a mild antacid.
In industrial fields, it is applied in rubber manufacturing, wastewater treatment and flue gas purification to neutralize acidic substances. Low-cost and non-toxic, baking soda remains an indispensable multi-purpose material in daily life and industrial production.