Sparkling water is an attractive name that sounds like something complicated to produce. Actually, sparkling water, soda water or seltzer derive their bubbly nature from the simple process of adding carbon dioxide (CO2) in gas form to regular water, and then bottling the water. The result is the effervescence that tickles our taste buds, and makes a nice change from regular water.

Sparkling water is not always mineral water, though it is frequently misnamed as such. Mineral water is defined as water that contains more than 250 parts per million of a dissolved mineral source. Though some mineral water can be sparkling water with the addition of carbonation, not all sparkling water is mineral water. All water needs to be considered sparkling water is carbonation.

The process of carbonating sparkling water began in the 18th century. A brewer named Joseph Priestly discovered that passing water over fermenting beer produced an interesting taste. He began offering this first sparkling water to his friends.

Today, pressurized CO2 is forced into bottles, or can be made with a soda maker at home or in bars and restaurants. When the pressure releases, as when the bottle opens, bubbles form. This is also why it is a good idea never to shake a bottle of sparkling water, because it builds the pressure of the CO2. Given time to settle down, it will. But if one opens a freshly shaken bottle of sparkling water, the result is a spray of water from the activated carbon dioxide.

Soda gets its sparkle from the same process used to make sparkling water. A recent experiment with diet Pepsi® discovered that the combination of the ingredients in Mentos® and the aspartame in diet Pepsi causes CO2 to become extremely reactive, and rapidly shoots virtually all the contents of the bottle of Pepsi into the air. This experiment may impress the kids, but it is a bit messy, so attempt it with caution.

Sparkling water was once celebrated as a drink to cure stomach ailments. However, now most doctors recommend that people with acid reflux avoid sparkling water. It may however be helpful in calming nausea.