Sodium Bicarbonate, chemically NaHCO3, is a white crystalline powder with a slightly alkaline taste. It is a mild, non-toxic alkali that releases carbon dioxide when it reacts with acids or when heated — this property makes it valuable as a leavening agent in food, a neutralisation agent in pharma, and an effervescent base in cleaning products. It is produced as an intermediate in the Solvay process from soda ash and is widely available in both food-grade and technical-grade forms.