Carbonated water
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carbonated water, also known as soda water, sparkling water, fizzy water, club soda, or seltzer water, is plain water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved. The process of dissolving carbon dioxide gas is called carbonation. It results in the formation of carbonic acid (which has the chemical formula H2CO3).
In the past, soda water was produced in the home by "charging" a refillable seltzer bottle by filling it with water and then adding carbon dioxide. Club soda may be identical to plain carbonated water or it may contain a small amount of table salt, sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate, or disodium phosphate, depending on the bottler. These additives are included to emulate the slightly salty taste of homemade soda water.
Contents |
[edit] History
Joseph Priestley first discovered a method of impregnating water with carbon dioxide when he suspended a bowl of water above a beer vat at a local Leeds, England brewery. The air blanketing the fermenting beer—called variously 'fixed air'—was known to kill mice suspended in it. Priestley found water thus treated had a pleasant taste and he offered it to friends as a refreshing drink. In 1772 Priestley published a paper entitled Impregnating Water with Fixed Air in which he describes dripping oil of vitriol (or sulfuric acid as it is now called) onto chalk to produce carbon dioxide gas, and encouraging the gas to dissolve into an agitated bowl of water.
In 1771 Swedish chemistry professor Torbern Bergman independently invented a similar process to make carbonated water. In poor health at the time yet frugal, he was trying to reproduce naturally-effervescent spring waters thought at the time to be beneficial to health.
Today, carbonated water is made by passing pressurized carbon dioxide through water. The pressure increases the solubility and allows more carbon dioxide to dissolve than would be possible under standard atmospheric pressure. When the bottle is opened, the pressure is released, allowing the gas to come out of the solution, thus forming the characteristic bubbles.
Today, carbonated water can be purchased at a grocery store, or can be made quickly and easily by using a home soda maker.
Carbonated water was commonly known by the name of soda water until World War II. In the 1950's new terms such as sparkling water and seltzer water began to be used. The term seltzer water is a genericized trademark that comes from the German brand Selters, which is produced and bottled in Nieder-Selters, Germany. [1]
[edit] Uses
Soft drinks are often based on flavored carbonated water. Recently it has become increasingly common for flavored carbonated water (without sweeteners) to be marketed by itself as a drink.
Carbonated water is good for removing stains, for example coffee stains from mugs, clothing stains, or stains from silver. The reason for its effectiveness in this area is the carbonation itself as the bubbling effect lifts stains in the same way that detergent bubbling does.
A common myth is said that red wine stains can be prevented from setting by sprinkling table salt on the stain and then applying liberal amounts of carbonated water. This was disproved by the MythBusters.
Soda water was once commonly made at home with the use of bottles which were equipped with a metal handle on the side to control the dispensing of the contents. Plain water would be placed in these bottles along with carbon dioxide tablets. Soda water was also available in bottle form without a metal handle. Since the carbonation in the water pressurizes the seltzer bottle, the liquid is propelled out as a stream.
Club soda has also become popular with mixing alcoholic beverages.
