Carbon dioxide is the gas produced when NaHCO3 is heated. The methylated spirits provides the heat source to burn the sugar and decompose the baking powder to produce carbon dioxide according to the equation below.
The sugar builds up inside drain lines and feeds bacteria living in the drain. The bacteria then colonizes and grows, forming into the shape of the drain line concealing it, which resembles a snake—hence the name. Eventually, it gets so thick that liquid cannot pass through it causing a major clog that must be removed.
When baking soda is mixed with an acid and a liquid, it will create bubbles of carbon dioxide gas that give it a fluffy texture. That being said, baking soda can react without acid if it is warmed above 122°F or subject to long-term heat and humidity.
Vinegar + Baking Soda
The claim for mixing vinegar and baking soda is that you can remove nearly all tough soils, stains and grease spots. What happens when you want to save this concoction for later use? These two ingredients mixed together create carbon dioxide which can be highly explosive if trapped in a container.
Mixing baking soda with various acids will activate the baking soda and produce carbon dioxide. You can activate baking soda in baked goods by mixing it with vinegar, lemon or orange juice, buttermilk, sour cream, yogurt, cocoa, chocolate, honey, maple syrup, molasses, fruit, brown sugar, or even water.
A chemical reaction between the vinegar and the baking soda produces bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. The dish detergent in the vinegar helps the bubbles last longer than they would with just vinegar and baking soda.
Although mixing vinegar and baking soda is not considered dangerous, you should still avoid mixing these in a container.
But common pantry essentials that are often used for cleaning — like baking soda and vinegar — shouldn't be mixed either. Unlike the bleach-ammonia mixture, combining soda and vinegar won't hurt anyone — but don't expect the mixture to do a good job cleaning, either.
When the sugar and baking soda in the experiment combusts, they is chemically changed into water vapour, sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide. The pressure created by the carbon dioxide pushes the sodium carbonate out, which creates the black carbon snake. This reaction is referred to as the dehydration of sugar.
Use your instincts; if it looks like one cup is going to cause too much fizz, use less or pour more slowly. Allow the fizz to sit for at least 20 minutes. See if it worked. Once the clog is broken up, the water level should go down.
Once the washer is filled, before the wash cycle starts, drop in a cup of vinegar. Let it dilute for a moment, then add a half of a cup of baking soda. Run the washer, and dry as normal. Your towels will be recharged and like new, or better than ever!
It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain. Always flush this mixture down with boiling water—no matter how long you leave it sitting in the drain.
Baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, is an alkaline salt. Vinegar is a weak acetic acid. When you combine them, two chemical reactions occur in a matter of seconds (a displacement and a decomposition reaction). The reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, which is also present in actual volcanoes.
Lemon Fizz
When basic baking soda (NaHCO3) is combined with acidic lemon juice (mainly citric acid, H3C6H5O7) an acid base reaction occurs. The reaction releases CO2 which can be captured using dish soap to form bubbles.
Baking soda and water is exothermic and so the water gets a little warmer. This is because the binding energy of the chemical bonds of the products has an excess over the binding energy of the components. Therefore, energy is released and the water warms up.
THE SCIENCE
When you mix acids and bases together, they create carbon dioxide bubbles. Carbon dioxide is the name of the gas that you exhale. Therefore, when you mix the orange with the baking soda, it creates carbon dioxide bubbles in your mouth that feel like fizz!
Baking soda leaves behind a white, dusty residue after it dries. Therefore, you should never use it to clean surfaces with deep grooves or cracks because the residue will get left behind and can build up.
If you have ant mounds outside, dampen the mound with water and then sprinkle about 2 cups of baking soda on it. Wait a half hour or so and pour a cup of vinegar on the mound. That combination will kill most ants. You can make a bait with half baking soda and half sugar to control ants and roaches.