Question

As an anti-acid.

Hint:

Baking soda is a versatile compound: It acts as an anti-acid, a leavening agent in baking, and helps extinguish fires by producing carbon dioxide when it reacts with acids.

Answer 1

Baking soda (NaHCO₃) acts as an anti-acid due to its ability to neutralize excess stomach acid. When baking soda reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach, it produces sodium chloride (NaCl), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water (H₂O), which relieves the acidity. The chemical equation is: \[ NaHCO_3 (aq) + HCl (aq) \rightarrow NaCl (aq) + CO_2 (g) + H_2O (l) \] Thus, the chemical property utilized here is its ability to neutralize acids.