The active component of baking powder is sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). It is responsible for the leavening or rising of baked goods by releasing carbon dioxide gas when it reacts with an acid. Other ingredients in baking powder, such as monocalcium phosphate and sodium aluminum sulfate, provide the acid component for the reaction to occur. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and calcium sulfate (CaSO4) are not typically used in baking powder, and sodium chloride (NaCl) is simply table salt and not an active ingredient in leavening.