Chemical database: Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate is an inorganic compound which comes in form of small colorless crystals, at standard conditions. It has a slightly salty taste. Sodium bicarbonate is soluble in water. NaHCO₃ is used in gastronomy where it forms carbon dioxide by reacting with other compounds. This effect helps dough to "rise". The only requirement for this to work, is the presence of acidic compounds in the food to which NaHCO₃ is added. This compound is also often used in laboratories for the neutralization of acids, and bases too, since NaHCO₃ is amphoteric (it reacts both with acids and bases). Because of its ability to neutralize acids, it is often used as an antacid.

Sodium bicarbonate can be bought in most supermarkets in various amounts - from smaller packages containing a few tens of grams, to larger packages containing several hundred grams of this compound. It can probably also be bought in drugstores/pharmacies. Chemical selling companies surely sell this compound too, although probably only in larger amounts.