system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why and how does baking soda remove odors and where does the odor go?

Recently, I noticed that my shoes started smelling, so I went online to see which spray would be the best to remove the odors.

But then my friend told me not to buy those $4.99 sprays and just buy an 89 cent box of baking soda.

I found that the baking soda works pretty well and I also know that it helps get rid of odors in refrigerators.

My question is: Why and how does baking soda get rid of odors and where does the odor go? Does the baking soda absorb the smell somehow? Is there some type of chemical reaction?
gpt
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is known as an amphoretic compound meaning it can neutralize both acid and bases. Some odors have acidic or alkaline groups that are recognized by the olfactory receptors in your nose. When the acid or basic group on a smelly molecule is neutralized, your nose can no longer detect the odor.