Baking powder is used in preparation of cakes and breads in bakery industry.

1. Baking powder consists of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and a mild edible acid like tartaric acid or citric acid.
2. When baking powder(mixed in the dough for preparing cakes and bread) is heated, sodium bicarbonate breaks down to give carbon dioxide and sodium carbonate.
3. The carbon dioxide produced causes the bread and cakes to rise. This makes them light and spongy.
4. Tartaric acid or citric acid present in baking powder reacts with sodium carbonate and neutralizes it.