How to Make Chemical Reactions With Baking Soda

Alkaline Solution in Water

1). Add a sprinkle of baking soda to one cup of plain water. Watch for tiny bubbles. This is the end result of a chain of reactions as the sodium bicarbonate molecules break down and dissolve in water. The bubbles are carbon dioxide, one of the final products of the reactions. See the Resources for more information on the chemical details of this reaction.
2). Stir a total of one teaspoon of baking soda into the cup of water. Test with litmus paper or pH paper if you wish; the solution will contain hydroxide and carbonate ions and thus will be alkaline.
3). Use the alkaline solution to neutralize the effect of acids: drink to treat heartburn or stomach upset from acidic foods.

1). Fill a deep, non-metal bowl with 1/4 cup of an acidic liquid. Try common kitchen acids such as lemon juice, buttermilk and especially vinegar, which produces a vigorous reaction.
2). Add a tablespoon of baking soda to the acidic liquid.
3). The solution will bubble and fizz immediately, releasing carbon dioxide. See the Resources for more information on the chemical details of this reaction.

1). Find a recipe that includes baking soda in a batter or dough, such as cookies, cakes, breads, etc.
2). Mix the batter or dough and bake or cook as the recipe directs.
3). Watch as the batter or dough rises with heating. This is due to thermal decomposition, the chemical reaction that causes the baking soda to release carbon dioxide when heated, forming air bubbles in the mixture and causing it to rise.

1). Gather your tarnished silver utensils. Silver becomes tarnished when it reacts to the hydrogen sulfide in regular air and a thin layer of silver sulfide forms on its surface.
2). Line the bottom of a pot with aluminum foil and add boiling water and 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
3). Add the silverware. The baking soda will react with both the aluminum in the foil and the silver sulfide tarnish to release the sulfur particles and thus remove the tarnish from the silver surface. See the Resources for more information on the chemical details of this reaction.

1). Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into a greasy cooking pot.
2). Add water, and bring to a boil over high heat. When the baking soda is heated, it reacts with the fat in the cooking grease to form glycerol, or the base component of soap. This process is called saponification. See the Resources for more information on the chemical details of this reaction.
3). Set the pot aside to cool. You will notice that the grease comes off the pot quite easily now, and the grease solids after cooling are opaque and soapy.