The chemical name of baking soda is (Reference 1) sodium bicarbonate and its symbolic equation is NaHCO3 and its thermal decomposition is Sodium hydrogen sodium carbonate + carbon dioxide + water2NaHCO3 - Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 0.168 g 106 g 18 g 44 g Baking powder and baking soda are chemical leavening agents that make dough rise when baking. It enlarges the bubbles that are already in the dough thanks to the creaming of the ingredients. What do baking powder and baking powder contain? (Reference 2) Baking powder is made up of three parts of an acid which may be cream of tartar (potassium tartrate), a base (baking powder), and a starch filler to absorb moisture. Baking soda consists only of sodium bicarbonate, a chemical salt. How do baking powder and baking soda work? (Reference 3) Baking powder consists of an acid component, an alkali and a moisture absorber. When the acid component and the baking powder react with each other with the liquid present, CO2 bubbles are released and held in place by the egg, this is why we add the liquid last so that the baking powder reacts at the end to form a spongy and soft layer. Baking powder comes in 2 versions: a single-effect powder and a double-effect powder. Single-acting powder contains acids that dissolve in water, so the chemical reaction starts as soon as a liquid is added. The dual-effect agent works in two ways. Along with the acid contained in the single-acting powder, it contains an additional acid which only dissolves when it is hot inside the oven; this provides additional bubble production. However, too much baking powder gives off too much carbon dioxide, this means too many bubbles can form, join and burst from the cake, but too few...... middle of paper ......n be used for many reasons other than baking, such as keeping food fresh in the refrigerator, absorbing odors, cleaning kitchen utensils when mixed with other cleaning agents, and finally tenderizing meat. Reference 1: http://www.innovateus.net/food/what-chemical -name-baking-soda Reference 2: http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/baking-powder.htm Reference 3: http ://www.nowforthesciencebit.com/culinary-science/how-does-baking -powder-work Reference 4: http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodcookingchemistry/a/How-Baking-Powder-Works.htm Reference 5 : http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/bicarbonate-soda Reference 6: http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodcookingchemistry/a/How-Baking-Soda-Works-For-Baking.htm Reference 7: http ://m.theepochtimes.com/n2/life/baking-soda-versus -baking-powder-275495.html Reference 8: http://chemistry.about.com/cs/foodchemistry/f/blbaking.htm