Citric acid + NaHCO3

[frosch45]

What happens when you mix sodium bicarbonate and citric acid? It looked like something blue was formed formed.

 

I am not sure because I remember seeing this reaction a long time ago, but I think that one or both of them dissolved in either vegtable oil or water?

 

I know that this is vague, but any help would be appreciated.

Edited August 13, 2008 by frosch45

[battousai]

How did you perform this? Were the reagents dissolved in water or another solvent? I also tried this with distilled water, grocery store NaHCO3, and pharmacy citric acid, and it was a clear solution for me. I looked for some vegetable oil (don't have any at the moment), but I added canola oil, in case oil somehow interferes with the reaction, but nothing happened out there was no change.

[John Cuthber]

There are some very blue copper complexes of copper with citrate. You wouldn't need much of an impurity to send it slightly blue.

[frosch45]

There are some very blue copper complexes of copper with citrate. You wouldn't need much of an impurity to send it slightly blue

 

I think that thats what must have happened