what is in baking soda
Baking soda has only one ingredient: sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate is a base that reacts when it comes into contact with acids, like buttermilk, yogurt or vinegar. This reaction produces carbon dioxide (CO2) in the form of bubbles, like a liquid foam (think of the grade school experiments involving fake volcanoes, vinegar and baking soda). When making baked goods, the process is called âchemical leavening,â because the trapped CO2 gas makes the dough or batter rise. But when baking soda comes into contact with an acid, it pretty much reacts immediately. And thatâs a problem.