Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

name         Tony M.
status       other
age          30s

Question -   I am attempting to find out how Baking Soda works to
eliminate odors. In other words, what does it do, chemically speaking, to
eliminate odors. I need to be able to explain this complex process in
simplistic terms.
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Tony,

Hoping to not disappoint you, baking soda does not eliminate odors very 
well at
all. As a wash solution, it is mildly alkaline and can serve to cut grease 
when
dumped down a drain. However, crystal Drano is much more effective -- and far
more dangerous to use. The popular "open box of Arm & HammerŪ in the
refrigerator" simply provides an adsorbent material that can soak up odors --
but not very effectively. For example, if some of the odoriferous materials
floating around in the refrigerator are acidic, the alkaline baking soda can
absorb and neutralize the acid. Even in that regard, it is not all that
effective because, as the powder in the box contacts water vapor, it tends to
crust over an lose a great deal of its already limited surface activity. 
It all
sounds quite nice, but it does not work very well. Far better would be a
canister of activated charcoal because it can indeed adsorb vapors that 
contact
the charcoal.

Regards,
ProfHoff
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