Difference between sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate?

Sola

I have washing crystals from Dri-Pak which say they're sodium carbonate, but is this different to bicarb of soda? When would I use which for cleaning?

Stephen_Leak

Chemically, the difference is just one atom each of sodium and hydrogen. However, they are radically different compounds with radically different properties. Basically, sodium carbonate (washing soda) is the cleaner and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is used both in cooking and for certain cleaning tasks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate

[Deleted User]

Difference between hydrogen dioxide (water) and hydrogen peroxide is just an oxygen atom..

Atoms are powerful, mess with them at your peril

Swan_2

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

I would not suggest mixing them up

phew!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: well said!!!

Sola

Oh thanks - I thought I read on here that people also used bicarb for cleaning.

Swan_2

Sola wrote: »

Oh thanks - I thought I read on here that people also used bicarb for cleaning.

you can use it for cleaning, it's a good deodorant, you can put a dish of it in your fridge & it'll absorbs smells, also good for dissolving in water & washing your fridge or freezer out after de-frosting or cleaning
lots of other uses, sure there's a link on here somewhere, I'll have a look

thing is, bicarbonate of soda is also used in baking, you wouldn't want to be using washing soda for that!!!


EDIT ... there are so many threads about washing soda & bicarb, I'm completely out of my depth! ... maybe one of the Board Guides can post links to the most relevant ones

nej

bicarbonate swings both ways.