◇ Baking powder is a major ingredient in cakes. ◇ This baking powder is a mixture of baking soda(sodium bicarbonate) and tartaric acid. ◇ Sodium bicarbonate is a base which when heated or mixed with water releases carbon dioxide. ◇ NaHCO−H3+CO2+H2O+ Sodium salt of acid ◇ Carbon dioxide produced during the reaction causes the cake to rise to make it soft and spongy.