Question: what is the difference between sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate in pools?
Answer: Sodium bicarbonate has two carbonate groups, CO2 and carbonate has one carbonate group. ... Sodium bicarbonate is a much weaker base and does not burn the skin. If you want to raise the pH of a pool sodium carbonate will do a good job but you have to be careful when using sodium carbonate as it is a strong base.