What Is Sparkling Water?
Sparkling water is a carbon dioxide (CO2) aqueous solution.
Often referred to as carbonated water, sparkling water can be either natural or artificial. Natural sparkling water is groundwater enriched with carbon dioxide gas from its source, manifesting as hot springs or seeps. Conversely, artificial sparkling water involves dissolving carbon dioxide in water under pressure. The market offers both naturally carbonated water and purified water with added carbon dioxide.
Sparkling water is known for its refreshing, cooling sensation, gaining popularity for refreshment and various other purposes.
Uses of Sparkling Water
Primarily, sparkling water is served in beverages and hot baths. Other notable uses include:
1. Cooking Rice
Using sparkling water for cooking rice yields fluffy and flavorful grains due to carbonic acid forming air bubbles during cooking.
2. Cooking Food
Cooking with sparkling water ensures tender and flavorful stews without altering the taste of ingredients, as sparkling water itself is tasteless.
3. Cleaning Surfaces
Cleaning with sparkling water proves more effective than ordinary water, thanks to its ability to encapsulate and remove dirt through bubble formation. It’s ideal for cleaning lightly soiled surfaces, such as windows and floors, and is safe for homes with children and pets due to its detergent-free nature.
4. Hair Washing
Beauty salons increasingly offer carbonated head spas, utilizing carbonation to cleanse the scalp and alleviate issues like stickiness and odor while enhancing blood circulation.
Properties of Sparkling Water
Sparkling water exhibits the following characteristics:
1. Weakly Acidic
With a pH of 5.5 or lower, sparkling water is slightly acidic, resulting from carbon dioxide forming carbonic acid, which further dissociates to release hydrogen ions.
(1) CO2 + H2O ⇄ H2CO3
(2) H2CO3 ⇄ H+ + HCO3–
2. Effervescence
The effervescent nature of sparkling water is characterized by bubbling, especially evident when opening a PET bottle, as the pressure decrease causes dissolved carbon dioxide to form bubbles.
3. Sourness
Sparkling water’s carbonation stimulates taste buds sensitive to sourness, imparting a sour flavor.
4. Cooling Sensation
The tingling sensation in the mouth from sparkling water is attributed to carbonic anhydrase converting carbonic acid into hydrogen and bicarbonate ions, stimulating the trigeminal nerve.
5. Vasodilating Effect
Immersing in sparkling water is thought to increase prostaglandin E2 production, a vasodilator, thereby enhancing blood vessel dilation.
Types of Sparkling Water
Commercially, sparkling water for consumption is available as carbonated beverages, categorized as follows:
1. Natural Water-Based
This category includes naturally carbonated water, either containing carbon dioxide from the source or having carbon dioxide added to natural water, often rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium.
2. Pure Water-Based
Pure water-based sparkling water involves adding carbon dioxide to purified water, generally lacking in minerals, though they may be added subsequently.
3. Sweeteners and Flavors
Beyond carbonation, carbonated waters may include sweeteners, acidifiers, and flavors, offering a variety of tastes. However, high sugar content should be consumed with caution.
4. Carbonation Levels
Carbonated beverages vary in carbon dioxide content, classified as strongly or slightly carbonated, measured in gas volume (GV) units, with strongly carbonated drinks often having a GV of 5, known for their refreshing effect.