Apppcations of Bicarbonates

One of the most important apppcations of bicarbonate ions includes the regulation of carbon dioxide via a bicarbonate buffer system. The function of bicarbonates in this system is to maintain extracellular carbon dioxide. The bicarbonate buffer system is the main extracellular buffer system. The carbon dioxide produced during tissue metabopsm is removed by the bicarbonate buffer system. The bicarbonate ions act as proton acceptors in the process. The role of proton donors is assigned to carbonic acid. The bicarbonate system can alter the pH of the blood.

$$mathrm{H_{2}CO_{3}+H_{2}O ightleftharpoons HCO_{3}^{-}+H^{+}}$$

The apppcation of various bicarbonates not only depends on the anion but also on the cation that constitutes the compound.

Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate, also known as sodium hydrogencarbonate, is an important component of many depcacies. Commonly known as baking soda or cooking soda or bicarbonate of soda is an inorganic salt that has a wide range of apppcations. Sodium bicarbonate was first synthesised in a laboratory by French chemist Nicholas Leblanc in 1791. It is extracted from a naturally occurring mineral called nahcopte or thermokapte. The decahydrate naturally occurring form of sodium bicarbonate is called natron. The chemical formula of baking soda is $mathrm{NaHCO_{3}}$.

Synthesis

The industrial synthesis of sodium bicarbonate involves the reaction of sodium carbonate with carbon dioxide and water. This reaction yields sodium bicarbonate as a white sopd precipitate.

$$mathrm{Na_{2}CO_{3}+CO_{2}+H_{2}O o 2NaHCO_{3}}$$

Another preparation method involves the reaction of sodium chloride, ammonia and carbon dioxide in the presence of water. This is called Solvay s process.

$$mathrm{NH_{3}+H_{2}O+CO_{2} o NH_{4}HCO_{3}}$$

$$mathrm{NH_{4}HCO_{3}+NaCl o NaHCO_{3}+NH_{4}Cl}$$

Properties of Sodium Bicarbonates

The properties of sodium bicarbonate are psted below

It is a white crystalpne sopd.

It has a melting point of 50 degrees Celsius.

It has a boipng point of 851 degrees Celsius.

It is highly soluble in methanol and acetone.

It is insoluble in ethanol.

It has a molecular mass of 84 grams per mole.

It is alkapne in water and acts as a weak base.

$$mathrm{NaHCO_{3}+H_{2}O o H_{2}CO_{3}+NaOH}$$

It has a pH of 8.31.

It is an amphoteric compound.

$$mathrm{NaHCO_{3}+HCl o H_{2}CO_{3}+NaCl}$$

$$mathrm{NaHCO_{3}+NaOH o Na_{2}CO_{3}+H_{2}O}$$

It undergoes thermal decomposition at around 80-100 degrees Celsius.

$$mathrm{2NaHCO_{3} o Na_{2}CO_{3}+H_{2}O+CO_{2}}$$

It is sparingly soluble in water.

Apppcations of Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate has a wide range of apppcations in cooking, pyrotechnics, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medicine, etc. Some of these apppcations are psted below

In cooking and baking, sodium bicarbonate is used as a raising agent (or leavening agent). It is often used with acidic material to trigger the reaction that produces carbon dioxide.

It is the main component in the composition of fireworks.

It is used to decrease the rate of combustion reactions.

It can be used as a disinfectant.

It is used as a fire extinguisher.

Potassium Bicarbonate

Just pke sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate is also a commercially important compound. Potassium bicarbonate is an inorganic salt of cationic potassium ion and anionic bicarbonate ion. According to IUPAC nomenclature, it is known as potassium hydrogen carbonate. Both sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate were once referred to as saleratus which means aerated salts. The chemical formula of potassium acid carbonate is $mathrm{KHCO_{3}}$.

Properties of Potassium Bicarbonate

Some of these properties are psted below

It is a white sopd.

It can be found in powdered and crystalpne forms.

It is alkapne.

It has a molecular mass of 100.115 grams per mole.

It does not boil. It decomposes at a temperature of 120 degrees Celsius.

It has a melting point of 292 degrees Celsius

It acts as a weak base.

It has a pH of 8.2.

It is highly soluble in water.

It is insoluble in ethanol.

It is odourless.

It is amphoteric.

Synthesis

The manufacturing process of potassium bicarbonate involves a reaction between an aqueous solution of potassium carbonate and carbon dioxide.

$$mathrm{K_{2}CO_{3}+H_{2}O+CO_{2} o 2KHCO_{3}}$$

The potassium bicarbonate produced in this reaction is decomposed to synthesize a highly pure form of potassium carbonate.

$$mathrm{2KHCO_{3} o K_{2}CO_{3}+CO_{2}+H_{2}O}$$

Apppcations of Potassium Bicarbonate

The apppcations of potassium bicarbonate are similar to sodium bicarbonate.

It is used as a leavening agent in baking, cooking and beverages as it is a good source of carbon dioxide.

It is used to regulate pH in medicines.

It is used as an additive in wine production.

It is used in fire extinguishers.

It is used for the neutrapzation of acidic soil in agriculture.

Conclusion

To summarize, bicarbonates are extensively used inorganic compounds. These compounds contribute to many metabopcal functions such as respiration, excretion, regulation, etc. The non-toxic nature of these compounds is ideal for producing baked and cooked goods. Not just for cooking, they can be used as a cleaning agent and odourcontrolpng agent in households and industries. Cold beverages such as coke contain bicarbonates to produce the bubbpng effect. Potassium bicarbonate is generally used to produce low-sodium food material. The alkapne nature of bicarbonates is utipzed in various buffers of drugs. The production of bicarbonates is generally done by taking their respective carbonates as substrates.

FAQs

Qns. 1. What is the structure of sodium bicarbonate?

Ans. The structure of sodium bicarbonate is given below