"arlen michael holder" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 02:31:11 -0000 (UTC), arlen michael holder wrote:

If anyone can EXPLAIN how sodium bicarbonate "removes odors", that will
be
a feat.

I just looked at the wikipedia, which, admittedly isn't a chemistry
reference, but it's a start ... where ... it doesn't even list deoderizing
as one of the many (miracle?) things it's supposed to do.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate

A search for "odor" shows it is used as a deoderant (which is completely
different), and to remove odors from books (again, different), but only
one
"real" reference for oder removal (reference #65)

[65] Raymond, Jessica (June 10, 2016). "Kitchen Odor Eliminating Candles,
Products, and Tricks". cravedujour.com.
http://cravedujour.com/kitchen-odor-eliminating-candles-products-tricks/#xxTICWbUEW5oLJeh.99

Of course, like most things on the net, the action is "imaginary" or
"magical", in that "it just happens", without any explanation of how.

This hit explains a bit more...
https://www.quora.com/How-does-baking-soda-function-as-a-deodorizer
"Baking soda reacts with most of the acids (e.g., formic, butyric,
propionic, oxygen-cleaved beta-unsaturated free fatty acids) that have a
characteristic rancid or sour odor, sequestering them in a much less
volatile basic salt form while releasing odorless carbon dioxide."

That had three references:
https://oconto.uwex.edu/files/2011/02/Baking-Soda.pdf
https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/4465/how-does-sodium-bicarbonate-act-as-a-deodorizing-agent
https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/4451/deodorizing-using-baking-powder-instead-of-baking-soda

"Baking soda is an effective deodorant because of its basicity. Many
foul-smelling compounds are acidic. Neutralizing the compound gives it an
ionic character which reduces the vapor pressure (meaning it is less
available for the nose to smell it) and makes it much more water soluble
(it can be washed away)."

Notice that, if this is correct, ANY alkaline powder would work as well.

But baking soda is very readily available, most homes have it
and its cheap and safe to use around the house so its hardly
surprising that you do see it recommended for deodorising.

Worse, notice the counter argument posed in those references:
"But when you take a look the Wikipedia page on aroma compounds, the only
compounds that could possibly be affected by a weakly basic substance are
esters (which would undergo hydrolysis). Most of the compounds are
polyunsaturated aldehydes, ketones and alcohols which are not affected by
(weak) bases. "

But its completely trivial to try baking soda with something
smelly and see if it works. Tad radical, I realise.

(There was talk in those articles about armpit odor, which I've studied
extensively, and where I can say the problem set is completely different
because of the complex nature of the human body - so we're only asking
here
about chemical smells and not biological smells).

Even sillier than you usually manage. There is no difference with
the smells most want to get rid of from their fridge or kitchen.

The summary, so far, AFAICT, is
o It doesn't really work,

Corse it does and its trivial to prove that.

not the least of why is you can't spread it out

Don’t need to if it absorbs the smell.

o But if it did work it would only work on a small variety of acidic odors

You havent established that only a small variety of smells are acidic.

o And, even so, ANY weakly basic compound would work as well

But it’s the most readily available, stupid.