Baking & Chemistry
by Jasmine McAlister
Why is baking important?
Baking is important because people bake everyday in many different types of ways. Without leavening agents then your baked good wont have its texture and it will be flat. Leavening agents are ways to keep you baked good tasting good.
Leavening Agents
A leavening is a substance used in dough that forms and lightens the finish protect. In leavening agents they react with heat to produce gas (carbon dioxide) that then becomes bubbles within the baked good. Leaving agents are things such as baking soda baking power and yeast.
Baking Soda
Baking soda a neutralizing leavening acid which means it need something added for it to react. It is an alkaline substance that is similar to a salt and it reacts to acidic substances, including most liquids.
The formula to baking soda is NaHCO3 + KHC4H4O6 ----> KNaC4H4O6 + H2O + CO2.
Baking Powder
Baking Powder is a dry chemical leavening agent.Used to increase the volume and texture of the baking good. The formula to baking powder is NaAl(SO4)2 + 3 NaHCO3 ----> Al(OH)3 + 2 Na2SO4 + 3 CO2
How does baking connect to social justice ?
Baking connects to social justice because with out leavening agents will baked goods still have the same meaning? If bread does not have leavening agents added to it then it will be flat and hard. Will people still want the bread? The same situation with cookies and cakes with out leavening agents they will be flat and hard. Will the birthday cake still have the same meaning if it is now just one big hard cookie? A one point in time during the Jewish Passover they are no allowed to let there bread rise.