Question: The first refrigerator of the world was made by William Cullen, way back in 1775. Although there was no compressor, it worked on the principle wherein the evaporation of nitrous ether helped in maintaining low temperature. The task of refilling that liquid however, was cumbersome. Years later, in 1834 m mechanical engineer from the USA, Jacob Parkins (picture, right) invented a refrigerator with a compressor. Although he invented this new refrigerator based on modern technology, it did not strike him to launch it in the market to earn money. The first compressor based refrigerator for domestic use was manufactured in 1913. Ammonia gas used in this refrigerator as a coolant would lead to foul smell and breathlessness in case of a leakage, which was the gas that was used as a substitute of ammonia and thus created a revolution in the refrigeration technology?
Answer: Water flowing from some natural spring in the scenic hilly area of England was considered as a health tonic. When collected in a transparent bottle, it not only exhibited a lovely sheen but also released small bubbles on its surface which made the water sparkle. Various tests revealed that this water contained a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. Assuming that CO2 present in the water was the factor to enhance its efficacy manufacturers started making soft drinks (or soda water) using carbon dioxide. In reality the water of these natural springs was naturally fortified with minerals which made it a natural health tonic. This investigation led to the global business of mineral water.
