Is baking soda (𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3) classified as a mixture or a pure substance? Explain.

Question:- Is baking soda (𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3) classified as a mixture or a pure substance? Explain.

Answer:

Sodium bicarbonate, commonly called baking soda, is NaHCO3, which can be better understood as a pure substance.

The definition of a pure substance is that it is an element or compound that contains only a designated molecule or atom. The first criterion is met by baking soda since it is composed of one kind of compound, which has a specific chemical formula, NaHCO3. The molecule of baking soda consists of one sodium atom, one atom of hydrogen, one atom of carbon, and three atoms of oxygen disposed in a certain order. This composition does not change even when the quantity is large or small, as is the case with the given samples. Different from the mixtures, which can be separated based on physical methods, baking soda cannot be decomposed into its parts by any other means but through chemical processes. The fact it has a coherent structure and stable chemical formula makes it qualify for being called a chemical pure substance.