Baking soda is used in small amount for making bread and cake. It helps to make these soft and spongy. An aqueous solution of baking soda turns red litmus blue. It is also used in soda acid fire extinguisher. Use this information to answer the following questions:
(i) How does it help in extinguishing fire?
(ii) What is the reaction involved when it is heated?
(iii) Is the pH value of baking soda solution lower than or higher than 7?
(i)
The CO2 gas produced by the reaction of baking soda and acid in the soda-acid fire extinguisher, helps in extinguishing fire.
(ii) When it is heated, it disintegrates into sodium carbonate, water and carbon dioxide.
2NaHCO,
(iii) pH value of baking soda solution is higher than 7, i.e. it is alkaline.