Baking soda is NaHCO₃ and washing soda is Na₂CO₃. When you heat baking soda, it becomes washing soda, giving off water and carbon dioxide. I know this not from a lab but from my kitchen—last month, I tried to freshen my mattress with baking soda and left it in the sun too long; my mother-in-law took one look and said, "Oye, you've gone and made it harsh now, like washing soda!" She was right—it lost its gentle touch. Baaki sab shor hai.
#cooking#regional-cuisine
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