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human
ELI5: Baking Soda and Baking Powder. The difference between them and what they both do.

While making some tasty chocolate chip oatmeal cookies I reflected on the fact that both of these substances go in so many baking things yet I have no idea what the difference between them is or what they even do. 

What is baking soda and baking powder? What does it do?
gpt
Baking soda and baking powder are both leavening agents - they make your baking rise through an acid/base chemical reaction (like the baking soda/vinegar volcano in every show/movie involving a science fair). Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate (a base), and baking powder is sodium bicarbonate with cream of tartar (an acid). Which one you use depends on the other ingredients in your baking - if there's no acid to activate the baking soda, then the recipe will call for baking powder.