can i buy bicarbonate of soda in alexandria?!

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Those other answers are trying to trick you.

Surely you are aware of the so called "bicarb in Alex" congressional bill of 1956.

It is banned there, and even mentioning it is a misdemeanor,

if you go into a store and ask for it, then it's a felony.

It's all down to a guy called Tim Osman, he said he was going to blow up Alexandria with bicarb,

so it's kind of understandable,

in these uncertain time,

it should be banned here and there.

Bicarbonate of soda is a chemical name for the chemical formula NaHCO(3). Baking soda is another name for the exact same thing.

Arm and Hammer is a brand that you'll probably have an easier time finding. All baking soda and all bicarbonate of soda are NaHCO(3). The packaging may be different colors, and they may make different marketing claims, but they are all the same thing.

There is an important difference to be drawn, though. Baking soda is not the same as baking powder.

Baking soda is NaHCO(3). Baking powder is baking soda mixed with an acidic powder. When mixed with wet ingredients, the acid in the baking powder reacts with the baking soda that is in the baking powder. Since baking soda is a base, it creates bubbles of gas when it reacts with an acid. These bubbles will help leaven your baked goods. Baking soda does the same thing, except that there needs to be something acidic in the recipe because it does not contain its own source of acid.

Put a tablespoon of baking powder into a glass of water and watch it fizz. If it doesn't, humidity in the air has caused the two ingredients to mix and give off the gas already. Get a fresh container.

Baking soda will last forever, and if it absorbs a little humidity from the air, it does not change it.

This is why baking soda is sold in boxes but baking powder is usally sold in containers with lids that seal out the moisture.

If you find double-acting baking powder, it is baking soda mixed with two sources of acid, which might give you a little more fizz.

Bottom line: if you want bicarbonate of soda, your food store will have plenty of it, but it may go by the name baking soda, which is another name for the exact same thing. Do not confuse it with baking powder, which is not the same.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bica…

It is sold in all drug stores and grocery stores.