sodium hydrogen carbonate is a base?

Answer 1

Actually it can act both as a base and an acid:

It is effectively the hydrogen carbonate group that we are interested in

HCO3(-) + H(+) <=> H2CO3 (acting as a base) or
HCO3(-) <=> H(+) + CO3(-2) (acing as an acid)

For the first equillibrium pKb=10.4 and for the second pKa=10.25

Which reaction takes place depends on the molecules that it is going to interact with.

What will happen if you dissolve it in distilled water?

Water can act both as an acid and base with pKa= pKb =7
As you can see water has a lower pKa than HCO3(-) which means that water is a stronger acid. Therefore HCO3(-) will act as a base in distilled water and take a H(+) from water:

HCO3(-) + H2O <=> H2CO3 + OH(-)

That's why dissolving NaHCO3 into water gives an alkaline solution with pH>7.

If you had dissolved NaHCO3 in a NaOH solution, it would have acted as an acid.

Answer 2

Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate is not a base. Its chemical formula is NaHCo3. It is a salt.

It is commonly referred to as Sodium bicarbonate. Because it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many other names including "sodium bicarb," as well as baking soda, bread soda, or bicarbonate of soda. It is poorly soluble in water. This white solid is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate

Answer 3

When it's dissolved in water, this reaction happens
NaHCO3 ----> Na(+) + HCO3(-)
and then HCO3- is hydrolyzed to yield OH(-)
HCO3(-) + H2O <> H2CO3 + OH(-)
So it's OH(-) in the solution, so the solution is basic

Answer 4

I think it is an acidic salt. A base is usually metal oxide...

Answer 5

well most people know it as bicarbonate. you can find it in your kitchen labeled as baking soda. it's a base alright.