Dietetic Technician Practice Test

Which of the following is not an ingredient in baking powder?

1. corn starch

2. sodium bicarbonate

3. cream of tartar

4. potassium bicarbonate

The correct answer is: potassium bicarbonate

Baking powder is a leavening agent commonly used in baking, and it typically contains a combination of an acid, a base, and a moisture-absorbing agent. In the context of the options provided, corn starch, sodium bicarbonate, and cream of tartar are all standard ingredients found in baking powder. Corn starch serves as a moisture-absorbing agent that keeps the baking powder dry and helps prevent clumping. Sodium bicarbonate acts as the base, which reacts with an acid to produce carbon dioxide gas when the baking powder is moistened and heated. Cream of tartar is an acid that is often included in baking powder formulations, serving as the acidic component that activates the sodium bicarbonate. Potassium bicarbonate, on the other hand, is not a typical ingredient in standard baking powder. While it can be used as a leavening agent on its own, it does not combine with other components in the same way that sodium bicarbonate does in most baking powder formulations. Thus, it is the ingredient that is not associated with classic baking powder recipes.