Soda Water: How Much Do You Know?

Soda water is carbonated water, sometimes referred to as sparkling water, and is plain water with carbon dioxide gas added. It is the primary component of most "soft drinks.". Carbonic acid results from the process of carbonation, and is better known to us as soda pop.

Many people enjoy a simple home chemistry: using a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charged” with carbon dioxide to produce soda water, also known as club soda. Club soda may be the same as plain old carbonated water; but it can have a small amount of table salts and sodium trace minerals. Additives like these could make the taste of home made soda water slightly salty. Carbonated mineral water often results from the process, which occurs naturally in many areas.

A little dental decay may sometimes be caused by sparkling mineral water. Normal water poses less potential dental problems than sparkling water, but the difference does not present a major problem. Regular soft drinks are apt to cause a much higher rate of tooth decay than sparkling water. The rate is so surprisingly low, carbonated drinks may not be a factor in causing dental decay.

Artesian wells can be the source for waters that filter among layers of minerals in the ground; the layers contain forms of carbonates, and the waters absorb the carbon dioxide gases produced by those carbonates. The resulting water is called natural sparkling water. Sparkling mineral water is created if the filtered water picks up enough different minerals to add a flavor.

In its basic construction, soda water is just water and carbon dioxide. You are probably familiar with sparkling mineral water — a naturally-occuring result of carbonation. In the year 1794, a jeweler invented a different kind of device — one to produce artificial carbonated mineral water.

A taste test of several popular carbonated drinks determined that Perrier (a sparkling natural mineral water) had the longest-lasting fizz.

The gentle fizz of club soda may be a welcome alternative for consumers who feel seltzer to be a bit harsh. Club soda seemed to be milder and a little sweeter, during the taste test, than the standard carbonated water.

Club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water have zero calories, making them a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water.

Tonic water is a carbonate drink containing water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine. Originally, to help cure or prevent malaria, quinine was added to tonic water. Today it is frequently mixed with gin and lemon or lime to produce an alcoholic drink.

Understanding soda water is made easier by these basic facts and terms.