sodium bicarbonate

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• a white crystalline substance, HNaCO3, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. It is found in many mineral springs and also produced artificially,. It is used in cookery, in baking powders, and as a source of carbonic acid gas (carbon dioxide) for soda water. Called also baking soda, cooking soda, bicarbonate of soda, bicarb, saleratus, and technically, acid sodium carbonate, sodium acid carbonate, primary sodium carbonate, sodium dicarbonate, etc.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun chemistry A salt of sodium hydroxide and carbonic acid, NaHCO3.
• noun This salt used in cooking as a raising agent, as an antacid, a cleaner, etc.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a white soluble compound (NaHCO3) used in effervescent drinks and in baking powders and as an antacid