Mankind has been using sodium bicarbonate for thousands of years. During the Egyptian Old Kingdom (2650 – 2150 BC) natron (a mineral compound of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and H2O) was used extensively for so may uses: as a soap, mouthwash, insecticide, teeth cleaner, antiseptic, drying agent, meat and fish preservative and for mummification.
From the Gods … Our English words natron and trona are derived from the Latin natrium which comes from the Egyptian netjeri which means divine (material).
Today the number of uses of sodium bicarbonate has not diminished. Most of us already already have baking soda (or baking powder which contains baking soda) in our kitchen cupboard as a rising agent for baking cakes and cookies. Below is the PubChem entry for Sodium Bicarbonate. In another post we list the multitude of medicinal uses.
PubChem the open chemistry database at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland. provides key chemical information for scientists, students, and the general public. contributed by hundreds of data sources – government agencies, chemical vendors, journal publishers, and more.
More than 400,000 metric tonnes of bicarbonate of soda is produced every year in the US. Incredibly, this is 20% more than the weight of the Empire State Building!!!
The web site lists an incredible 188 major uses in industry and agriculture, where it is used in massive quantities as a natural fungicide. Below are some of the uses.
Abrasives, Adhesives, Animal feed, Athletic enhancers, Cleaning, Disinfecting, Drugs & medication, Fire extinguishers, Flue gas desulphurization, Fungicides, Hemodialysis, Pharmaceuticals, Soil stabilizers, Tanning, Veterinary drugs, Water treatment.
PubChem designates Sodium Bicarbonate as a ‘Green Safer’ chemical for humans and nature.
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