Question

Name the constituents of baking powder and write the function of each constituent of baking powder in cake manufacturing.

Answer 1

Constituents of Baking Powder :

1)Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)
2) A weak acid

This weak acid is generally a combination of Monocalcium phosphate which is 5-12 % and Sodium aluminium sulfate which is 21-26 % .
In case of Commercial baking soda instead of Sodium aluminium sulfate, Sodium acid pyrophosphate is used as one of the acidic component.
The weak acid and Sodium bicarbonate reacts to produce carbon dioxide as follows :

14 NaHCO₃ + 5 Ca(H₂PO₄)₂H₂O → 14 CO₂ + Ca5(PO₄)₃OH + 7 Na₂HPO₄ + 18 H₂O

Baking powder is used as chemical leavening agent .It increases the volume of baked goods.