The chemistry of a baker’s friend,

Leavening Agents

What is sodium bicarbonate?

• Baking Powder

• Alum

• Baking Soda

• Cream of tarter

(Na3HCO3CO3·2H2O),

Correct Answer

Baking SodaIn 1791, a French chemist,

Nicolas Leblanc, produced sodium bicarbonate as we know it today. In 1846 two New York bakers, John Dwight and Austin Church, established the first factory to develop baking soda from sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide.

Why know this?

• Sodium bicarbonate will be used in our food labs to make:– Biscuits– Muffins– Cookies– Clean out the drains every Friday

What other foods use sodium

Bicarbonate?

What leavening agent contains 2 compounds?

• These chemical ingredients combine together make a fast rising baked good when liquid is added;– Baking Soda– Cream of Tarter

• NaHCO3 + H+ → Na+ + CO2 + H2O

Baking Powder

• Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent, a mixture of a weak alkali and a weak acid, and is used for increasing the volume and lightening the texture of baked goods. Baking powder works by releasing carbon dioxide gas into a batter or dough through an acid-base reaction, causing bubbles in the wet mixture to expand and thus leavening the mixture.

Let’s Experiment

• Kitchens– 1 & 2:

• Place I cup of cool water in your flask (or glass recycled bottle)

• Place 1 teaspoon Sodium Bicarbonate in flask• Cover with a balloon and label. Bring to the front table.• Set your timer. Take a picture at 1 minute, 5 minutes

and 20 minutes.

Let’s Experiment

• Kitchens– 3 & 4:

• Place I cup of cool water in your flask (or glass recycled bottle)

• Place 1 teaspoon baking powder in flask• Cover with a balloon and label. Bring to the front table.• Set your timer. Take a picture at 1 minute, 5 minutes

and 20 minutes.

Let’s Experiment

• Kitchens– 5 & 6:

• Place I cup of cool water in your flask (or glass recycled bottle)

• Place 1 teaspoon yeast in flask• Cover with a balloon and label. Bring to the front table.• Set your timer. Take a picture at 1 minute, 5 minutes

and 20 minutes.

• Have kitchen groups work on this while you are preparing your quick bread labs!

Photos of previous results.

Set up Experiment

5 minutes

10 minutes gases cause balloon to fly off flask

After 60 minutes, gases still present