minerals

Soda \So"da\, n. [It., soda, in OIt., ashes used in making
   glass, fr. L. solida, fem. of solidus solid; solida having
   probably been a name of glasswort. See {Solid}.]
   1. (Chem.)
      (a) Sodium oxide or hydroxide.
      (b) Popularly, sodium carbonate or bicarbonate. Sodium
          bicarbonate is also called {baking soda}
          [1913 Webster]

   2. same as {sodium}, used in terms such as {bicarbonate of
      soda}.
      [PJC]

   3. same as {soda water}.
      [PJC]

   4. a non-alcoholic beverage, sweetened by various means,
      containing flavoring and supersaturated with carbon
      dioxide, so as to be effervescent when the container is
      opened; -- in different localities it is variously called
      also {soda pop}, {pop}, {mineral water}, and {minerals}.
      It has many variants. The sweetening agent may be natural,
      such as cane sugar or corn syrup, or artificial, such as
      saccharin or aspartame. The flavoring varies widely,
      popular variants being fruit or cola flavoring.
      [PJC]

   {Caustic soda}, sodium hydroxide.

   {Cooking soda}, sodium bicarbonate. [Colloq.]

   {Sal soda}. See {Sodium carbonate}, under {Sodium}.

   {Soda alum} (Min.), a mineral consisting of the hydrous
      sulphate of alumina and soda.

   {Soda ash}, crude sodium carbonate; -- so called because
      formerly obtained from the ashes of sea plants and certain
      other plants, as saltwort ({Salsola}). See under {Sodium}.
      

   {Soda fountain}, an apparatus for drawing soda water, fitted
      with delivery tube, faucets, etc.

   {Soda lye}, a lye consisting essentially of a solution of
      sodium hydroxide, used in soap making.

   {Soda niter}. See {Nitratine}.

   {Soda salts}, salts having sodium for the base; specifically,
      sodium sulphate or Glauber's salts.

   {Soda waste}, the waste material, consisting chiefly of
      calcium hydroxide and sulphide, which accumulates as a
      useless residue or side product in the ordinary Leblanc
      process of soda manufacture; -- called also {alkali
      waste}.

   {Washing soda}, sodium carbonate. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]
    

Soda pop \So"da pop\, n.
   a popular non-alcoholic beverage, sweetened by various means,
   containing flavoring and supersaturated with carbon dioxide,
   so as to be effervescent when the container is opened; -- in
   different localities it is variously called also {soda},
   {pop}, {mineral water}, and {minerals}. It has many variants.
   The sweetening agent may be natural, such as cane sugar or
   corn syrup, or artificial, such as saccharin or aspartame.
   The flavoring varies widely, popular variants being fruit
   juices, fruit sirups, cream, or cola flavoring; the soda pop
   is usually served chilled.

   Note: Several large corporations started primarily as
         bottlers of soda pop, such as {Coca-Cola},
         {Pepsi-Cola}, and {Dr. Pepper}.
         [PJC]