Thanks, I was pulling my hair out trying to find it as a Ph up thing. The eqiupment wasn't just for the carbonate, I want to also use it to make NaCN, I just needed it to go to 200C to make the carbonate cause I couldn't find any OTC and it's the only thing to X off my X-mas list.
I conducted a couple of experiments anyway, I found the source of the problem, I read the manual, and it says it has an automatic switch off and switch on to regulate the temperature, so basically, If you leave it on too long the thing overheats and the temp will read to the machine I guess as 200C when the actual vessel, a stainless steel pot is only half that, I came to this conclusion after turning the dial to 100C and water was placed inside, it began to boil, but when I turned it up to the highest, it boiled more vigorously but leveled off and reverted back to normal boiling. The water was removed and the thing was dried, after that I placed the baking soda in there and the stuff started to form solids but then they broke up and the temp lowered itself, I am going to let it cool with the baking soda in there and start it back up again in a while, starting with full blast, hopefully the stuff will fully convert to the carbonate before the temp regulator fucks me over again. I made another discovery also, I've been noticing white stuff on my gums in the morning when I brush my teeth, the water I placed in the pot left the same residue
I will never drink bottled water again, oh yeah the wter placed in the pot was bottled water, Two wisdoms for everyone, don't drink bottled water, don't use retail store deep fryers, fondue pots or the such.
By the way, where are these heating mantles found, for future reference, maybe I can get some spare dough down the road.
