Club soda is a form ofcarbonated water manufactured in North America, commonly used as adrink mixer.Sodium bicarbonate,potassium sulfate,potassium bicarbonate,potassium citrate, orsodium citrate is added to artificially replicate constituents commonly found in naturalmineral waters[1] and offset the acidity of introducing carbon dioxide gas (which creates low 3–4 pHcarbonic acid when dissolved in water[2]).
Naturally effervescentSelters water from Germany gave rise to the generic use of the term for carbonated water, particularly from asoda siphon, in the United States asseltzer water. Seltzer water is artificially carbonated but lacks added minerals.[1][3]
English chemistJoseph Priestley discovered an artificial method for producingcarbonated water, described in a pamphlet calledDirections for Impregnating Water with Fixed Air, published in 1772. The pamphlet explained the process of drippingsulfuric acid ontochalk, which producedcarbon dioxide (CO2) that was captured in a bowl of agitated water. Priestley thought such carbonated water was a cure forscurvy and proposed the process to CaptainJames Cook to prevent scurvy during his second voyage to the South Seas. Priestley never realized the commercial potential of his product, though he did refer to it as his "happiest discovery."[4]
In 1783,Johann Jacob Schweppe, ajeweler and amateur scientist ofGeneva, began the commercial production of carbonated mineral water by dissolving the CO2 under pressure.[5] In 1807,Benjamin Silliman, aYale chemistry professor, began producing carbonated water under pressure and selling it inNew Haven, Connecticut. In the 1830s, Anyos Jedlik of Hungary opened a large-scale carbonated water factory. The original trademarked club soda was made byCantrell & Cochrane ofDublin, Ireland in 1877. The 'club' refers to theKildare Street Club inDublin, which commissioned them to produce it.[6]
The dissolved gas in carbonated water acts as a temporarysurfactant, causing it to be recommended as a household remedy for removing stains, particularly those of red wine.[7]
