Buyer takeaway: Sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3 (CAS 144-55-8). Industrial, feed-related and food-related grades are not interchangeable by the household name "baking soda." Soda ash is Na2CO3 and has a separate product cluster.
1. Fix identity and grade
Sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate and baking soda can refer to the same chemical identity, but the grade and contract limits still matter. Put formula, CAS, intended duty and named grade on the PO, bag and COA.
| Grade family | Procurement requirement |
|---|---|
| Technical / industrial | Assay, PSD, bulk density, impurities, packing and process duty |
| Feed-related | Applicable destination evidence and traceability |
| Food-related | Named food standard, impurity limits and current documents |
2. Write measurable specification fields
- NaHCO3 assay and reporting basis
- pH at an agreed solution concentration
- Chloride, insolubles, moisture and trace limits where required
- Particle-size distribution and bulk density for feeders or dry sorbent systems
- Packing, caking control and storage expectations
Separate guaranteed limits from typical values and define the accepted analytical method for critical fields.
3. Match the real application
Use dedicated pages for flue-gas treatment, feed-related procurement, water-treatment alkalinity, blasting, fire-extinguisher powder or industrial cleaning. Application pages explain grade and physical-property selection; they do not provide a universal dose.
4. Keep soda ash separate
Soda ash is sodium carbonate, Na2CO3. It has different alkalinity and physical forms. Use the single soda ash vs sodium bicarbonate comparison to prevent an identity error; do not combine both into one vague long-term product page.
5. Compare price and logistics
Normalize grade, assay, PSD, packing, quantity, port and Incoterm. Dry sorbent and feeder applications may place a commercial value on particle consistency that is invisible in a generic price per tonne. Use the price and landed-cost hub.
6. Inspect first shipments
Review a recent lot COA or sample, then verify bag condition, lot number, quantity and documents on arrival. Store dry, segregated from incompatible contamination and under the current SDS.
RFQ checklist
- Intended duty and named grade
- Assay, impurity limits, PSD and bulk density where needed
- Quantity, packing, destination and Incoterm
- Recent COA, SDS, sample and destination evidence
Frequently asked questions
Formula? NaHCO3.
Is it soda ash? No.
Does "baking soda" prove food grade? No; the applicable standard and evidence are required.
Core resources
Product/RFQ · Specification · Grade selection · Price · Vs soda ash
Reference
Verify identity in the PubChem sodium bicarbonate record.