Question

Describe how sodium hydrogencarbonate (baking soda) is produced on a large scale. Write the equation of the reaction involved.

Answer 1

Sodium hydrogencarbonate is produced on a large scale by reacting a cold and concentrated solution of sodium chloride (called brine) with ammonia and carbon dioxide.

\[\ce{\underset{(Common salt)}{\underset{Sodium chloride}{NaCl}} + \underset{Ammonia}{NH3} + \underset{Water}{H2O} + \underset{dioxide}{\underset{Carbon}{CO2}} -> \underset{(Baking soda)}{\underset{carbonate}{\underset{Sodium hydrogen}{NaHCO3}}} + \underset{chloride}{\underset{Ammonium}{NH4Cl}}}\]