Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Diffusion and Absorption 



Name: Nathan
Status: student
Grade: K-3
Country: USA
Date: Winter 2011-2012
Question:
I am doing a science project on mummification. I am using baking soda to mummify a hot dog. I know the baking soda is absorbing the moisture in the hot dog. My question is how or why does the baking soda absorb the moisture?
Replies:
Hi Nathan,

Baking soda, at the microscopic level, is very porous, has a lot of holes. Also, the surface of the powder is very rough. It is very easy for moisture to find its way into the holes and get physically trapped in the holes. It is also very easy for water molecules to adhere to the surface of the very rough powder so that it is physically held in place.

Greg (Roberto Gregorius) Canisius College

Click here to return to the Chemistry Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory