Why does baking soda remove odors?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: It neutralizes acidic smells
It absorbs odor molecules — Wrong. Baking soda does absorb some molecules, but its superpower is chemical neutralization of acidic and basic odors.
Baking soda masks smells with powder scent — Wrong. Baking soda is odorless—it has no scent to mask anything. It actually chemically neutralizes smelly molecules.
It neutralizes acidic smells ✓ — Correct! Most bad smells are acidic (like sour milk) or basic (like fish). Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is amphoteric—it reacts with both acids and bases, neutralizing them into odorless salts. It's chemistry, not masking!