Carbonated water facts for kids
Carbonated water (also known as club soda, soda water, sparkling water, seltzer water, or fizzy water) is water into which carbon dioxide gas under pressure has been dissolved. Some of these have additives, such as sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate or similar, but seltzer water is almost always composed of water and carbon dioxide with no other additives. This process, known as carbonation, is a process that causes the water to become effervescent. Most carbonated water is sold in ready to drink bottles as carbonated beverages such as soft drinks. However, it can also be prepared at home with soda makers.
There are special machines that allow to make soda water at home.
The process of carbonation can also occur naturally to produce carbonated mineral water.
Health effects
By itself, carbonated water appears to have little impact on health. While carbonated water is somewhat acidic, this acidity is quickly neutralized by saliva.
Carbonated water may increase irritable bowel syndrome symptoms of bloating and gas due to the release of carbon dioxide in the digestive tract. It does not appear to have an effect on gastroesophageal reflux disease. There is tentative evidence that carbonated water may help with constipation among people who have had a stroke.
Typical carbonated soft drinks such as colas do have health risks. Carbonated colas have a correlation with slightly decreased bone density in older women. Soft drinks are about 100 times more erosive to teeth than plain carbonated water.
Cooking
Carbonated water is increasingly popular in cooking to provide a lighter texture to doughs and batters as compared to regular water. Kevin Ryan, a food scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, says the effervescent bubbles when mixed with dough provide the light texture. Pockets of carbon dioxide gas are introduced into the dough and further expand when cooking.
Stain remover
The popular belief that club soda is a good remover of clothing stains, particularly those of red wine, is based on hearsay and anecdotal evidence. There is no underlying chemical reason why club soda would be superior to plain water in stain removal.
Images for kids
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Joseph Priestley pioneered a method of carbonation in the 18th century
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Equipment used by Priestley in his experiments on gases and the carbonation of water
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Belfast Evening Post, Belfast, Ireland, August 7, 1786
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A soda siphon circa 1922
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Late Victorian seltzogene made by British Syphon
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The Codd-neck bottle is designed to contain a marble which seals in the carbonation
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A typical all-in-one soda maker for home use found in supermarkets. A refillable carbon dioxide canister and a high-pressure bottle are often included.
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A modern bar soda gun
See also
In Spanish: Agua carbonatada para niños
