Baking powder used to make cake is a mixture of starch, NaHCO3 and Ca(H2PO4)2. The function of Ca(H2 β s Block Elements Chemistry Question
Question
Baking powder used to make cake is a mixture of starch, NaHCO3 and Ca(H2PO4)2. The function of Ca(H2PO4)2 is :
π‘ Solution & Explanation
Step 1: Analyze the thermal decomposition of the options. Li2CO3 decomposes to Li2O and CO2; LiOH decomposes to Li2O and H2O; NaOH is highly stable and does not decompose. Step 2: Due to the exceptionally small size and high polarizing power of the lithium cation, lithium nitrate (LiNO3) decomposes completely upon heating, behaving differently than other alkali metal nitrates. Step 3: The decomposition reaction is: 4LiNO3 -> 2Li2O + 4NO2 + O2. This reaction liberates oxygen gas (O2), matching option (c).