Question

In addition to sodium hydrogencarbonate, baking powders contain a substance X. Name the substance X. What is the role of substance X in the baking powder?

Answer 1

In addition to sodium hydrogencarbonate, baking powder contains tartaric acid (X). Tartaric acid is added to baking powder to neutralise the bitter taste that baking soda produces in the cake. Also, carbon dioxide, which makes the cake fluffy and soft, is produced only when tartaric acid reacts with sodium hydrogencarbonate (baking soda) in the presence of water.