Final answer:
Calcium gluconate is used medically for treating calcium deficiencies and as an antidote for certain toxicities, while sodium bicarbonate serves as a treatment for acidosis, a urinary tract symptom reliever, and an antacid. Commercially, baking soda is used in baking and laundry, and carbonates like sodium and calcium carbonate have various applications including food preservation and antacid use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calcium gluconate and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) are compounds with significant medical and commercial uses. Calcium gluconate is typically used in the treatment of calcium deficiencies and as an antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity or anticoagulant overdoses. On the other hand, sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is used medically to treat acidosis and to help alleviate the discomfort caused by urinary tract infections. It can also neutralize stomach acid and is used as an antacid. In commercial settings, sodium bicarbonate is used in baking and as a leavening agent due to its ability to regulate acid balance. It also finds application in laundry as 'washing soda' to improve detergent efficiency by interacting with ions in water.
In foods, sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is used to maintain an acid balance. Sodium bicarbonate can also be used as a substitute for commercial toothpaste to combat conditions like gum disease because it has some antimicrobial effects when used orally. Large amounts, however, can be toxic if swallowed. Commercially, sodium carbonate, produced from the mineral trona, and calcium carbonate are widely used carbonates. Calcium carbonate, for example, can act as an antacid to neutralize stomach acids. Organic salts, such as calcium and sodium propionate, are included in processed foods as preservatives to extend shelf life and inhibit bacterial growth.