500 Sodium Carbonate/Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium carbonate is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It occurs as a crystalline heptahytrate, which readily loses moisture and turns to a fine powder on exposure to air.
Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is cristalline but often appears as a fine powder. It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in mineral springs.
Sodium bicarbonate is also produced artificially.
The salt has many names including sodium hydrogen carbon, sodium bicarb, baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, bicarb soda, saleratus or bicarbonate of soda. It is soluble in water.
# A small amount can be added to a beef stew to act as meat tenderizers.
# Was formerly used as a source of carbon dioxide for soda water.
# Can be used when preparing tomato sauce to neutralize the tomato's acidity.
# It is added to beans in water to prevent flatulence produced by digesting them.
# It is effective in extinguishing grease fires which may occur when deep frying.
# In Thailand, soaking insects in baking soda for three to five hours prior to cooking
produces a sweeter, more mushroom-