Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is commonly used as an antacid as well as in cooking and baking. Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent a mixture of a carbonate or bicarbonate and a weak acidThe base and acid are prevented from reacting prematurely by the inclusion of a buffer such as cornstarchBaking powder is used to increase the volume and lighten the texture of baked goods. This is because it has leavening properties meaning it causes dough to rise by producing carbon dioxide.
What is Baking Powder.
Baking powder is a chemical leavening agent used for baking. Baking powder and baking soda are both baking essentials and depending on the specific recipe you may need one or the other or both. This way the baking powder wont react before you use it. While the general formula of baking powder can be summarized as baking soda plus an acid theres actually more to baking powder than just this.