Baking soda is chemically:

Baking soda is the common name for the chemical compound **sodium bicarbonate** (also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate). ### Step-by-Step Identification: 1. **Chemical Name**: Baking soda's IUPAC name is Sodium bicarbonate. 2. **Chemical Components**: It consists of a sodium cation ($Na^+$) and a bicarbonate anion ($HCO_3^-$). 3. **Chemical Formula**: When these ions combine to form a neutral compound, the formula is $NaHCO_3$. ### Comparison with other options: - $Na_2CO_3$ is **Washing Soda** (Sodium Carbonate). - $NaCl$ is **Common Salt** (Sodium Chloride). - $CaSO_4$ is **Calcium Sulfate** (often found in Gypsum or Plaster of Paris).