Yield: 1 glass (about 8 fl oz)

Does Baking Soda Neutralize Apple Cider Vinegar? The Math

Yes, they cancel one to one by moles. Here is how much soda cancels how much 5 percent vinegar, what is left in the glass, and the sodium that stays.

Prep Time3 minutes

Total Time3 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 fl oz (240 mL) plain water, 240 mL; our recipe, not a medical rule
• 1 1/2 tsp (7.4 mL) apple cider vinegar, label 5 percent acidity, 7.4 mL; check the label, the soda amount depends on the strength
• 1/8 tsp (0.58 g) food-grade, aluminum-free baking soda (not baking powder), 0.58 g; level, not heaped; baking powder is a different product

Instructions

1. Pour the water. Pour 8 fl oz (240 mL) of plain water into a tall glass, leaving empty space above it for foam.
2. Stir in the vinegar. Measure 1 1/2 tsp (7.4 mL) of apple cider vinegar that is labeled 5 percent and stir it into the water. Vinegar goes into the water, never straight into your mouth.
3. Level the soda. Fill a 1/8 tsp (0.58 g) measure with food-grade, aluminum-free baking soda and sweep the top flat with the back of a knife.
4. Add the soda slowly. Sprinkle it in a little at a time and stir gently. The reaction releases carbon dioxide, which is the fizz.
5. Wait for the fizz to stop. Let the glass stand until the bubbles thin out and the surface is nearly still. By our reading of the chemistry, that means the acid is used up.
6. Drink it fresh. Drink the glass in one sitting. Mix a new glass each time, since we found no sourced shelf life.

Notes

Metric amounts are rounded. The 0.58 g figure is 1/8 teaspoon at the USDA household weight of 4.6 g per teaspoon.

Every neutralization figure on this page is our own calculation from published molar masses and the FDA's vinegar definition. It is not a measurement and not a study.

Nutrition values are estimates calculated from typical USDA FoodData Central values for baking soda (27,400 mg of sodium per 100 g). We list sodium only, because we found no sourced figure for the vinegar.

The 8 fl oz (240 mL) of water is our recipe. MedlinePlus gives at least 4 oz (120 mL) for antacid use.