SOFT DRINK ANALYSIS

By Sarah Paul, 12C

Teacher: Mrs. Susan Thomas

1
INDEX

S.NO. TOPICS PAGE

1 Acknowledgement
3
2 Introduction
4
3 History
4
4 Interesting Facts
5
4 Ingredients
6
5 Manufacturing
7
6 Harmful Effects
8
7 Experiment
9-17
9 Bibliography
18

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to my teacher Ms. Susan Thomas for her guidance during
the course of this project. This would not have been possible were it not for her patience and
experienced teaching.

I would also like to thank my partners Megha Ramesh, Uthara, and Tayeba Usmani as it was our
combined effort that produced fruit.

I am grateful also to my parents for being a constant source of encouragement and support.

Finally I would like to thank the Central Board of Education for this platform to delve deeper
into the subject. Thank you for a syllabus that helps us practically put to use our knowledge.

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 SOFT DRINKS – AN INTRODUCTION

What is it?

A soft drink is a beverage that typically contains carbonated water, a sweetener and a natural
or artificial flavouring. The sweetener may be sugar, high fructose corn sugar, fruit juice, sugar
substitutes or some combination of these. Soft drinks may also contain caffeine, colourings,
preservatives and other ingredients.

Soft drinks are called “soft” because they don’t have any alcohol in them. Small amounts
of alcohol may be present in a soft drink, but the alcohol content must be less than 0.5% of the
total volume if the drink is to be considered non-alcoholic.

History

The origins of soft drinks lie in the development of fruit-flavoured drinks. In Tudor
England 'water imperial' was widely drunk; it was a sweetened drink with lemon flavour and
containing cream of tartar. 'Manays Cryste' was a sweetened cordial flavoured with rosewater,
violets or cinnamon.

Another early type of soft drink was lemonade, made of water and lemon juice sweetened with
honey, but without carbonated water.

In the late 18th century, scientists made important progress in replicating naturally
carbonated mineral waters. In 1767, Englishman Joseph Priestley first discovered a method of
infusing water with carbon dioxide to make carbonated when he suspended a bowl of distilled
water above a beer vat at a local brewery in Leeds, England. His invention of carbonated water
(also known as soda water) is the major and defining component of most soft drinks.

Priestley found that water treated in this manner had a pleasant taste, and he offered it to his
friends as a refreshing drink. In 1772, Priestley published a paper entitled Impregnating Water
with Fixed Air in which he describes dripping oil of vitriol (or sulphuric acid as it is now called)
onto chalk to produce carbon dioxide gas, and encouraging the gas to dissolve into an agitated
bowl of water.

Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius started to add flavours (spices, juices, and wine) to
carbonated water in the late eighteenth century.

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 Interesting Facts

Coca Cola is largest manufacturer of carbonated soda drinks in the world. Their most popular
drinks are Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Diet Coke and orange-flavored soda drink Fanta.

When trade embargoes against Nazi Germany separated Coca-Cola Deutschland from
headquarters in Atlanta, the ingredients to produce Coke quickly dissipated. German born Max
Keith, in charge of operations, developed a soda that could be made with the limited
ingredients they had at their disposal. The result was “Fanta”, a play on the German word
“Fantasie”. It was made with odds and ends: beet sugar, orange juice, leftover apple fiber, and
even whey byproduct from cheese production. The recipe has since been updated (the original
would probably taste something like laundry water to modern palates). It is noteworthy to add
that despite governmental pressures, Keith never joined the Nazi party and remained loyal to
Coca-Cola. When the war ended, he handed back control of his operations to headquarters.

Lithium citrate is a mood stabilizing drug used to treat depression and bipolar disorders, sold
under trade names Litarex and Demalit. Today it requires a prescription, but years ago it was a
common ingredient in many medicated beverages, including “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon Soda”.
Today, we know it as 7UP (it is interesting to note that no one really knows where that name
came from). It contained lithium until 1948.

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Ingredients

1 Carbonated water-
1) Adds sparkle
2) Acts as preservative
3) Is cheap
4) Easy to liquefy

2 Sugar-
1) Adds sweetness
2) Balances flavors and acids.

3 Flavorings-
1) Add smell and taste.

4 Acids-
1) Enhance thirst-quenching experience by stimulating
saliva flow
2) Reduces pH level
3) Acts as preservatives

5 Preservatives-
1) Impedes growth of microorganisms
2) Prevents deterioration

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Manufacture of Soft Drinks

The soft drink manufacturing involves various steps such as:

1) Clarifying the water- Impurities degrade taste and colour and have to be removed from
the soft drink.
2) Filtering, sterilizing, and dechlorinating- Clarified water is filtered and sterilized to
destroy bacteria. Free chlorine is added. A carbon filter then dechlorinates the water.
3) Mixing the Ingredients-Sugar and flavour concentrates are added and the ingredients
are carefully mixed in tanks.
4) Carbonating the Beverage- CO2 solubility increases as the liquid temperature
decreases. The amount of CO2 pressure used depends on the type of soft drink.
5) Filling and packaging- The finished product is transferred into cans and sealed. Labels
are then affixed to bottles to provide information about the brand, ingredients, etc.
Containers are packed into cartons and are shipped to distributors.

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Harmful Effects

1 Caffeine, Sugar and Aspartame: Coca Cola and Pepsi have

been under lawsuits in some of the developed countries
against using Aspartame which causes several diseases.
Children should be strictly restricted from consuming
products with Aspartame. Soft drinks also have bad
reputation for containing caffeine (it can manipulate anxiety
levels of drinkers, and cause addiction) and artificial
sweeteners.
2 Kidney Failures: The sweet sugar is definitely not the reason
for a failing kidney but the artificial sweeteners are. Hence
consuming Diet versions of Coca Cola or Pepsi have proved to
produce more impairment than the sweet versions.
3 Metabolism Level Decreases: A glass of warm water can
speed up you metabolic rate but may taste awful after a
workout session. A can of Coke can surely be tasty but it really
decreases the metabolism and helps in destroying the fat
burning enzymes in no time. Thus a can of either Diet Coke or
simple Coca Cola after a rigorous workout or busy day is
strictly not advisable
4 Teeth and Bone Damage: The pH level of Coke or Pepsi is 3.2
which are quite high. This pH level decides the acidic nature of
a liquid. Hence these beverages are acidic in nature and can
dissolve bones and enamels very quickly.

5 Calcium Depletion
Calcium is an essential mineral for strong bones and teeth.
Consuming high amounts of phosphoric acid, a common
ingredient in sodas, can deplete the calcium from your bones
and decrease calcium absorption. Among women, this may
lead to poor bone development or osteoporosis, a condition
characterized by brittle and weak bones.
6 Reproduction problems: A research has shown that the cans
of Coke or Pepsi are coated with such chemicals that may lead
to reproduction problems with regular consumption.

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7 Dehydration
60% of your body weight is comprised of water. You lose
water when you sweat, urinate and breathe. For the body to
continue functioning properly, you must replace the lost
water with ingested fluids. Sodas are consumed in the place
of water or other hydrating fluids. Many sodas contain
caffeine, which acts as a diuretic, increasing urination and
leaving the body with less available fluid to carry out
important functions. Additionally, some diet sodas contain
significant amounts of sodium, which may draw water from
the cells and promote dehydration.

8 High Sugar Content

Many soft drinks contain significant quantities of sugar. One
12-ounce serving of cola, for example, includes 39 grams, or
3.3 tablespoons, of sugar. Consuming such large quantities of
sugar elevates your blood glucose levels and may increase
your risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, many sodas
contain high fructose corn syrup or HFCS as their primary
sugar ingredient. HFCS may stress the pancreas and lead to
fluctuating blood sugar levels. Consuming sugary sodas day
after day can contribute to the onset of non-insulin
dependent diabetes, or type 2 diabetes.

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Titration Of

Aim:

To study the molar concentration of carbonic acid in Fanta.

Materials required:

Fanta, Phenolphthalein, NaOH pellets, distilled water, burette, pipette, dropper, titration stand,
white tile, conical flask and 250 ml measuring flask.

Indicator:

Pink to Colourless

Procedure:

1) Measure 1g of NaOH pellets on an electronic balance. Make a solution of NaOH by

adding 250 ml of water to it.
2) Rinse the burette with Fanta. Fill it with Fanta to the zero mark. Place it on the stand.
3) Rinse the pipette with NaOH solution and pipette out 20 ml in flask.
4) Place a white tile at the bottom of the stand and place the flask with NaOH on it. Add 2
drops of Phenolphthalein in it.
5) Titrate the NaOH against Fanta till color changes from pink to colorless.
6) Note down the values by taking 2 concordant readings.

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Titration Of

Aim:

To study the molar concentration of carbonic acid in Cola.

Materials required:

Cola, Phenolphthalein, NaOH pellets, distilled water, burette, pipette, dropper, titration stand,
white tile, conical flask and 250 ml measuring flask.

Indicator:

Pink to Colourless

Procedure:

1) Measure 1g of NaOH pellets on an electronic balance. Make a solution of NaOH by

adding 250 ml of water to it.
2) Rinse the burette with Cola. Fill it with Cola to the zero mark. Place it on the stand.
3) Rinse the pipette with NaOH solution and pipette out 20 ml in flask.
4) Place a white tile at the bottom of the stand and place the flask with NaOH on it. Add 2
drops of Phenolphthalein in it.
5) Titrate the NaOH against Cola till colour changes from pink to colourless.
6) Note down the values by taking 2 concordant readings.

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Titration of

Aim:

To study the molar concentration of carbonic acid in Sprite.

Materials required:

Sprite, Phenolphthalein, NaOH pellets, distilled water, burette, pipette, dropper, titration stand,
white tile, conical flask and 250 ml measuring flask.

Indicator:

Pink to Colourless

Procedure:

1) Measure 1g of NaOH pellets on an electronic balance.

2) Make a solution of NaOH by adding 250 ml of water to it.
3) Rinse the burette with Sprite. Fill it with Sprite to the zero mark. Place it on the stand.
4) Rinse the pipette with NaOH solution and pipette out 20 ml in flask.
5) Place a white tile at the bottom of the stand and place the flask with NaOH on it. Add 2
drops of Phenolphthalein in it.
6) Titrate the NaOH against Sprite till color changes from pink to colorless.
7) Note down the values by taking 2 concordant readings.

12
Titration Of

Aim:

To study the molar concentration of carbonic acid in Pepsi.

Materials required:

Pepsi, Phenolphthalein, NaOH pellets, distilled water, burette, pipette, dropper, titration stand,
white tile, conical flask and 250 ml measuring flask.

Indicator:

Pink to Colourless

Procedure:

1) Measure 1g of NaOH pellets on an electronic balance. Make a solution of NaOH by

adding 250 ml of water to it.
2) Rinse the burette with Pepsi. Fill it with Pepsi to the zero mark. Place it on the stand.
3) Rinse the pipette with NaOH solution and pipette out 20 ml in flask.
4) Place a white tile at the bottom of the stand and place the flask with NaOH on it. Add 2
drops of Phenolphthalein in it.
5) Titrate the NaOH against Pepsi till color changes from pink to colourless.
6) Note down the values by taking 2 concordant readings.

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OBSERVATIONS:

Soft Drink Initial Final

1 FANTA 0 16.5

16.5 33.0

2 COCA COLA 0 18.5

18.5 37

3 SPRITE 0 26

26 53

4 PEPSI 0 11.6

11.6 23.1

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Test for Carbon Dioxide

As soon as the can is opened the carbon dioxide evolved should be passed through the mouth
of the test tube containing freshly prepared limewater. The lime water turns milky. This
confirms the presence of carbon dioxide.

Test for Proteins

Ninhydrin Test:

To 1ml of the soft drink sample, add 2 drops of 0.2% Ninhydrin. Mix well and heat. The
appearance of bluish color indicates the presence of proteins.

Test for Carbohydrates

Molisch Test:

To 2 ml of the soft drink sample add a drop of alpha-naphththol+2ml of conc. Sulphuric acid.
Violet ring seen at the junction of 2 layers confirms the presence of carbohydrates

Tollen’s Test:

Take 2-3 ml of AgNO3 solution in a clean test tube and add 1-3 drops of NaOH solution. Shake
well and let all the grey precipitate to settle. Decant the supernatant layer and wash the
precipitate 2-3 times with distilled water. Now add NaOH to dissolve the ppt to get a clear
solution. Now add the sample to the Tollen’s reagent and shake well. Keep the test tube in
briskly boiling water. Formation of a silver mirror indicates the presence of reducing
carbohydrate.

Test for Phosphate ion:

To 3 ml of soft drink sample add 2 ml of conc. Nitric acid and add 5% ammonium molybdate
(solid). Then boil it and the presence of a yellow colored precipitate confirms the presence of
phosphate ion.

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 Drinks/ Fanta Coca-Cola Sprite Pepsi
content

CO2 P P P P

Proteins A A A A

Carbohydrates P P P P

Phosphate ion P P P P

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CALCULATIONS
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 × 1000
Molarity of NaOH =𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 × 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝐿

1 × 1000
M NaOH = 40 ×250 = 0.1 M

V NaOH =20 mL

2NaOH +H2CO3  Na2CO3 + 2H2O

M NaOH V NaOH =2Mcarbonic acid Vcarbonic acid

M NaOH V NaOH 2
=
M carbonic acid V carbonic acid 1

1. Fanta

0.1 × 20 2
=
𝑀 × 16.5 1
M Fanta = 0.06 M

2. COCO COLA

0.1 × 20 2
=
𝑀 × 18.5 1
M Coco cola= 0.05M

3. SPRITE

0.1 × 20 2
=
𝑀 × 26 1
MSprite = 0.04 M

4. PEPSI

0.1 × 20 2
=
𝑀 × 11.6 1
MPepsi = 0.08M

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Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_drink

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/12/most-
soft-drinks-contain-a-small-amount-of-alcohol/

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m04qtwWIVn1qkjckfo1_
500.jpg

http://www.medicaldaily.com/pulse/soft-drink-dangers-8-
ways-soda-negatively-affects-your-health-319054

https://envisioningtheamericandream.files.wordpress.com/2
013/03/beverages-7up-ads-family-cheerful-disposition.jpg

https://s-media-cache-
ak0.pinimg.com/originals/74/e7/7b/74e77b4d2a8e31eeabe
a080cced66c78.jpg

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