Conversion of Sodium Bicarbonate into Sodium Carbonate

Note:

This page has been transcluded to The Nexian DMT Handbook under the Conversion of Sodium Bicarbonate into Sodium Carbonate section or other locations within or without the handbook. Please markup in consideration of this. The top section header is to remain in place as a reference for subsequent section headers and to allow easy editing directly from the handbook.

Conversion of Sodium Bicarbonate into Sodium Carbonate

Sodium carbonate on left and bicarbonate on right, both in oversaturated solutions. Sodium carbonate on left and bicarbonate on right, After vs Before the conversion Pour sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) onto a non-aluminum pan or oven-safe dish. Place in the oven at 400ºF (205ºC) for one hour to release CO2. The resulting material should have lost around third of the original weight. It will be of a slightly less powdery consistency, closer to sugar than flour. sodium carbonate feels a bit looser and grainier than bicarbonate, and in an oversaturated solution, sodium bicarbonate will remain powdery while sodium carbonate tends to rock up. NOTE This can also be done on a stove top/oven ring in a pot and take around 5-10 minutes to completely dehydrate (it becomes a fine light white powder and the CO2 stops bubbling through the powder).