Question: The simplest type of carbonated drink is soda water which is nothing but a concoction of water and carbon dioxide. Why such water is called ‘soda water’?
Answer: Prior to the use of carbon dioxide for making soda water, people in Europe and America would mix sodium bicarbonate/NaHCO3 powder to water and cure stomach upsets. (Sodium bicarbonate releases lot of carbon dioxide along with bubbles, when mixed with water). Sodium bicarbonate is also known as soda, so the water containing NaHCO3 became popular as ‘soda water’. This word is still in use even today, though there is no soda (NaHCO3)
in the soda water.
