Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a white crystalline solid, with the chemical formula NaHCO3, often appearing as a fine powder.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682001.html Sodium bicarbonate occurs naturally, maintaining the pH balance and carbon dioxide levels of all living beings.http://www.drugs.com/mtm/sodium-bicarbonate.html

Baking soda has been and continues to be used in a number of industries. Being a natural cleansing agent, baking soda is used to clean, scour, and deodorize. In addition to its uses as a cleaning agent, baking soda is commonly used in cooking as a leavening agent.http://www.armhammer.com/history/

There are extensive uses for baking powder as a natural remedy in health and beauty, including: an exfoliant, a natural deodorant, as a natural toothpaste and mouthwash, and as a preshave and aftershave treatment for men with sensitive skin.http://health.howstuffworks.com/uses-for-baking-soda-health-and-beauty-ga.htm

The uses to which baking soda has been put to since its discovery in the mid 19th century are nearly limitless, and new uses continue to be discovered for the compound.

Baking powder is a more active leavening agent than baking soda; as it makes things rise faster. Baking powder adds cream of tartar, an acid salt to baking soda, making the reaction even more intense. Because the two react so quickly when exposed to moisture, cornstarch is added to commercial baking powder to prevent it from reacting.

An alternative to baking powder can be made by combining 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, which is equivalent to 1 teaspoon commercial baking powder. Homemade baking powder must be used right away, or it will lose its effectiveness.