Wikipedia Article About Baker's ammonia on Wikipedia Earlier version of baking powder, used in the food industry for meal confectionery production as a chemical leavening agent instead of ammonium carbonate of food quality. Ammonium carbonate is used when crushed as a smelling salt. It can be crushed when needed in order to revive someone that has fainted. It is also known as "baker's ammonia" and was a forerunner to the more modern leavening agents baking soda and baking powder.