Why does cake rise ? What is wrong with your cake if it does not rise ?

Question: Why does cake rise ? What is wrong with your cake if it does not rise ?
- Keywords:
  cake
Asked by MILLIETHEBEST on 10 Mar 2015.
- anon answered on 10 Mar 2015:
  
  Baking powder or bicarbonate soda makes a cake rise.
  
  Bicarbonate soda has carbon dioxide so… carbon dioxide is realised by reacting it with heat!
  
  ..so if you’re cake doesn’t rise maybe you don’t have baking powder? or not enough heat?

Question: Why does cake rise ? What is wrong with your cake if it does not rise ?