How do you get carbonate?

You can obtain carbonate, specifically sodium carbonate (soda ash), by heating baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

Here's how:

1. Heating Baking Soda: Heat baking soda (sodium bicarbonate - NaHCO₃) in an oven at around 200°F (93°C) for approximately one hour.

2. Chemical Reaction: This heating process causes a decomposition reaction where sodium bicarbonate breaks down into sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), water (H₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂). The carbon dioxide and water are released as gases.

   • Chemical Equation: 2 NaHCO₃ (s) → Na₂CO₃ (s) + H₂O (g) + CO₂ (g)

3. Resulting Product: The remaining white powder is sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash.

4. Hydration: Sodium carbonate readily absorbs water from the air, forming hydrated forms. This may revert it back to something closer to baking soda, depending on the extent of hydration. Therefore, store it in an airtight container to prevent this.

In summary, heating baking soda is a practical method for obtaining sodium carbonate.