What is the common name for sodium bicarbonate?
Answer
Baking soda
Answer
Baking soda
What is the common name for sodium bicarbonate? It is commonly called baking soda.
Sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO₃. It is a white, crystalline solid that is usually sold as a fine powder. In cooking, it acts as a leavening agent: when it reacts with an acid such as vinegar, buttermilk, lemon juice, or cream of tartar, it releases carbon dioxide. Those gas bubbles help batters and doughs expand.
The name varies by region. “Baking soda” is especially common in the United States, while “bicarbonate of soda” or “bicarb” is widely used in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. These names refer to the same compound, not different ingredients.
Baking soda is often confused with baking powder. Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate plus powdered acidic ingredients and usually a starch. Baking soda is also distinct from washing soda, which is sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), and caustic soda, which is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Sodium bicarbonate has many non-baking uses, including as an antacid and a mild cleaning abrasive.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026