Washing soda?

Question

(or sodium carbonate).
what is it exactly?
in the kitchen of course.
is washing soda the stuff that you put in the washing machine?
or the stuff you put in cakes?
or what!!!!!???/

Answer 1

Washing soda ( Na2CO2 ) and baking soda ( NaHCO3 ) are two entirly different substances. Washing soda or soda ash is used in detergent powders, exclusively for washing / cleaning purpose. Baking soda / Soda Bi carb is used in kitchen in food stuff. Also baking soda with lemon juice is used for indigestion.

Answer 2

Sodium carbonate has been called "natron" and "soda ash" as well as "washing soda". It is a strong alkali and in water solution can saponify fats, making them soluble in water as soaps. Most laundry and dishwashing machine detergents will contain a large proportion of washing soda or another alkali, borax. It is not normally used in cooking because of it's strong alkaline reaction, bitter taste and in large quantities would be harmful. Na2CO3

Sodium bicarbonate, also called "baking soda" or "sodium hydrogen carbonate" is mildly alkaline. It would not work very well in a laundry detergent because of it's mild nature. It does not have a strongly bitter taste. It is added to baking recipes since it releases carbon dioxide on reaction with mild food acids, or added tartaric acid (cream of tartar) or citric acid. The carbon dioxide bubbles in a cake recipe make the cake rise. NaHCO3

Answer 3

Sodium carbonate is the stuff used for washing. (Na2CO3)

Sodium bicarbonate is the stuff used in baking powders and cakes. (NaHCO3)

Both are usually referred to as soda, but are different.

Answer 4

Its both of course.

Its a component of baking soda. When heated it will decompose to release CO2 gas and the cake rises.

In detergents it helps alkalinity, wich is important for soil removal