[CABAL]

Hey all!

If I put NaHCO3 in water, does make Na+ and HCO3- ions right away?

I'm asking because I read that plants uses the carbondioxide from the compound,
but how do they do this?

Thanks,

Nicholas

[DevaDevil]

sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is soluble in water, so it will be present in ionic form. (solubility ~7.8 g/100 ml water)

(Bi)Carbonate in acidic solution will be in equilibrium with carbon dioxide and water. HCO₃^- + H⁺ <--> H₂O + CO₂

As far as plants go, I'll let a biologist do the talking.

[CABAL]

Edit: Oh, if I dissolve 10g of NaHCO3 in 1 Liter of water, what would the pH be?
(an estimate would be enough)..sorry to be so pushy!

Thanks!!

Just what I needed!

Nicholas

[enahs]

An estimate would be:
A little less then 7.0, assuming pure water.

[CABAL]

Thanks!!

Very nice!!

[Borek]

An estimate would be:
A little less then 7.0, assuming pure water.

Nope. Between 8.0 and 8.1. That's without taking

H₂CO₃ = CO₂ + H₂O

equilibrium into account, which could remove some CO₂ from the solution, making it even more basic.