Is baking soda and powder is the same?

Baking soda:

- Chemical name: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).

- Base ingredient.

- Leavening agent: produces carbon dioxide when combined with acid and liquid, causing baked goods to rise.

- Requires an acidic ingredient (ex. buttermilk, yogurt, cocoa powder) or an activator like cream of tartar or lemon juice in recipes without other acidic.

Baking powder:

- Mixture of baking soda, an acid (monocalcium phosphate), and a drying agent (cornstarch).

- Self-rising leavening agent: contains all the needed components (i.e. acid that react together.

- Can be used when no other acidic ingredients are present in the recipe.

- Usually requires less amount compared to a baking soda, as it already includes acidic components.

In some situations, they can be interchangeable, but not always, as they differ in properties.