sodium carbonate vs. sodium bicarbonate

sodium carbonate vs. sodium bicarbonate: What's the difference?

Sodium bicarbonate refers to a chemical compound derived from sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃, is also called soda ash and is used in manufacturing and cleaning. Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃, is also known as baking soda and is made by reacting sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide. It’s used in baking as a leavening agent and also in medicine as an antacid.

sodium carbonate

noun

Chemistry.

Also called soda ash. an anhydrous, grayish-white, odorless, water-soluble powder, Na 2 CO 3 , usually obtained by the Solvay process and containing about 1 percent of impurities consisting of sulfates, chlorides, and bicarbonates of sodium: used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, soaps, paper, petroleum products, sodium salts, as a cleanser, for bleaching, and in water treatment.
Also called sal soda, soda, washing soda. the decahydrated form of this salt, Na 2 CO 3 ⋅10H 2 O, used similarly.
the monohydrated form of this salt, Na 2 CO 3 ⋅H 2 O, used similarly, especially in photography.

sodium bicarbonate

noun

Chemistry, Pharmacology.

a white, crystalline, water-soluble solid, in powder or granules, NaHCO 3 , usually prepared by the reaction of soda ash with carbon dioxide or obtained from the intermediate product of the Solvay process by purification: used chiefly in the manufacture of sodium salts, baking powder, and beverages, as a laboratory reagent, as a fire extinguisher, and in medicine as an antacid.