How would you distinguish between baking powder and washing soda by heating?

 On heating baking powder (NaHCO₃), carbon dioxide  (CO₂) gas is evolved which turns limewater milky. Sodium carbonate and water vapour are also produced.

$2NaHCO_{3}\xrightarrow{heat} Na_{2} ​CO_{3} ​+H_{2} ​\uparrow +CO_{2} ​\uparrow $

  While on heating washing soda (Na₂CO₃.10H₂O), the water of crystallization is given out and the salt becomes anhydrous. It does not produce Carbon dioxide.

$Na_{2} ​CO_{3} ​.10H_{2} ​O\xrightarrow{heat} Na_{2} ​CO_{\ 3} ​+10H_{2} ​O\uparrow $

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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