Hi everyone!!

Just a quick question... I tried to convert sodium bicarbonate into sodium carbonate following the advice in the wiki (here: https://wiki.dmt-nexus.me/Conver...te_into_Sodium_Carbonate). I used Arm & Hammer pure sodium bicarbonate and placed it in a pot and over my stove for over an hour at full flame. I´m PRETTY sure that it went well over 150-180°C (if not more, I can't be sure). It's supposed to break down at around 80-100°C.

The thing is that I've read everywhere that when the change is done the substance physically changes, it turns from a powder to a salt like grainy appearance. My didn't. It remains perfectly fine powder.

Is there a way to chemically prove that it turned into sodium carbonate?

Oh, BTW, during the heating it started smelling AWFUL! I take that's a good start.

I just might try harder to find commercial sodium carbonate. I honestly did and couldn't find it.

Thanks in advance!!

Did you weigh before and after?

If you compare it with fresh sodium bicarb, it should def have a different consistency, maybe you just dont notice it now because you dont have some bicarb to compare?

I dont recall it smelling aweful and I see no reason why it should, since its just releasing CO2 and H2O. Was it stainless steel pot? Hopefully not some teflon pot

I honestly didn't weight it. I just eyeballed the amount in the package before and after the heating and it doesn't look like there's a 20% difference (actually I see no difference at all, lol).

Actually you're right, I don't have any bicarb to compare. But it doesn't get any more powdery than what I've got

And yes, I used a stainless steel pot.

You know what, I'll just look for the right stuff and stop baking bicarb. But thanks a lot Endlessness!!