CHEMISTRY

PROJECT

NIKITHA.S
12A07
 AIM

Comparative Study
and Qualitative
Analysis of
Different Brands of
Cold Drinks
available in market
 PURPOSE

In recent days, soft drink

brands have been put into various
questions regarding their purity
. News flashed that they contain
harmful pesticides which aroused
interest in knowing about the
composition of these drinks consumed
highly worldwide. I wanted to
confirm if the claims were true
 HISTORY OF SOFT DRINKS

The history of soft drinks in India

dates to the
early 20th
century when
carbonated
beverages were
first
introduced to the Indian market by
foreign companies. The popularization
of soft drinks can be attributed to
companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo,
which entered India in the 1950s and
1980s, respectively. These companies
played a significant role in shaping
the soft drink industry in the
country.

Over the years, Indian consumers

developed a taste for a variety of
carbonated beverages, including colas,
flavoured sodas, and fruit-based
drinks. Soft drinks have become an
integral part of Indian culture, with
numerous local and global brands
offering a wide range of flavours to
cater to diverse preferences.
THE CHEMICAL ABYSS OF SOFT DRINKS:
UNMASKING THEIR DETRIMENTAL COMPONENTS

Introduction:

Soft drinks, those ubiquitous and

seemingly innocuous beverages, have a
dark secret lurking beneath their
bubbly exteriors. Beyond the allure of
their sweetness and effervescence lies
a concoction of chemicals that pose
serious concerns. In this essay, we'll
delve into the troubling components
that comprise soft drinks, shedding
light on the adverse implications of
these widely consumed refreshments.

The Troubling Components of Soft

Drinks:

Water - Diluting the Truth:

Soft drinks are primarily composed of
water, often accounting for up to 99%
of their content. However, this serves
as a deceptive dilution, masking the
true nature of the other, less benign
components.

Sugars - The Sweet Poison:

Sugars, typically in the form of high
fructose corn syrup or sucrose, are
the culprits behind the excessive
sweetness of soft drinks. These sugars
readily dissolve in water, delivering
a dangerously high sugar load.

Acids - Corrosive Culprits:

Soft drinks incorporate acids, such as
citric or phosphoric acid, not only
for flavour enhancement but also to
preserve their shelf life. However,
these acids can corrode teeth and lead
to digestive issues.

Flavourings - Synthetic Deceptions:

The allure of soft drinks' flavours
often stems from artificial or natural
flavour compounds. These compounds,
sometimes shrouded in secrecy, are
engineered to stimulate the taste buds
but may have hidden health risks.

Carbonation - Gasping for Health:

Carbonation, created by dissolving
carbon dioxide (CO2) under pressure,
imparts the fizziness that many enjoy.
However, the excessive consumption of
carbonated beverages can lead to
digestive discomfort and even calcium
loss from bones.

Preservatives - Extending the Harm:

Preservatives like sodium benzoate and
potassium sorbate are added to prolong
soft drinks' shelf life. Yet, these
chemicals may have adverse effects on
health, including potential
carcinogenic properties.
Additives and Colourings - Artifice
Over Authenticity:
Soft drinks often contain additives to
maintain consistency and artificial
colourings to enhance appearance,
prioritizing visual appeal over health
considerations.

The Negative Chemistry at Play:

The chemistry within soft drinks

paints a grim picture. Upon opening,
the release of pressure causes the
dissolved CO2 to escape, while the
acids continue their corrosive work on
teeth enamel. The sugars, in excessive
quantities, can lead to obesity,
diabetes, and other health issues.
THEORY

Cold drinks of different brands are

composed of carbon dioxide, Alcohol
carbohydrates phosphate ions Glucose
and Sucrose These soft drinks give
feelings of warmth lightness and have
a tangy taste which is liked by
everyone CO2 gas is dissolved in the
drink to provide it with tangy

taste. Carbohydrates are naturally

occurring organic compounds and are
 major source of energy to our body
general formula of carbohydrates is
Cx(H2O)y. On the basis of molecular
size carbohydrates are classified as
monosaccharide disaccharide and
polysaccharide glucose is a
monosaccharide with formula C6H12O6.
Sucrose is a disaccharide and is
widely distributed in juices seeds and
flowers. Cold drinks are a bit acidic
in nature and their acidity can be
measured by finding their PH VALUES.
The pH values also depend on the
acidic contents such as citric acid
and phosphoric Acid.
APPARATUS

Test tube
Test tube holder
Test tube stand
Beaker
Burner
Stop watch
pH paper
Tripod Stand
China dish
Wire gauge
CHEMICALS REQUIRED

Potassium iodide
Sodium Hydroxide
Benedict’s reagent
Ceric Ammonium Nitrate
Lime water
Fehling’s A and B solution
Water bath
DETECTION OF PH VALUE:
Experiment:
Small samples of cold drinks
of different brands ware
taken in a test tube and put
on the ph Paper was noticed
and was composed with the
standard pH
Observation:
SL No Name of drink Colour change pH
Value
1 Coca Cola Pink 2.5 - 3
2 Sprite Red 1-2
3 Limca Pinkish 2.5-3.5
4 Fanta Orange 3 - 4
Inference:

Soft drinks are generally acidic

because of CITRIC ACID and PHOSPHORIC
ACID. pH Value of different cold drink
brands is different due to variation
in amount of acidic contents
TEST FOR CARBON DIOXIDE :
Experiment:
As soon as the bottles were opened one
by one the
samples were
passed through
LIME WATER the
lime water turns
MILKY.
Observation:
SL. No. Name of drink Conclusion
1 Coca Cola CO2 present
2 Sprite CO2 present
3 Limca CO2 present
4 Fanta CO2 present

Inference :
All soft drinks contain dissolved CO2
Chemical Reaction involved:
Ca(OH)2 +CO2 CaCO3 +H2O
TEST FOR GLUCOSE
Experiment:
Glucose is reducing sugar acid its
presence is detected by the following
test.
Benedict’s reagent test:
Small sample of
cold drink of
different
brands were
taken in a test
tube and a few
drops of
Benedict’s reagent were added to it
test tube was heated for a few
seconds. Reddish coloration confirmed
the presence of glucose in the
samples.
Observation:
SL No. Name of drink Observation Conclusion
1 Coca Cola orange ppt Glucose is present
2 Sprite orange ppt Glucose is present
3 Limca orange ppt Glucose is present
4 Fanta orange ppt Glucose is present
Inference:
All the samples gave positive test
for glucose with Benedict’s reagent
hence all of them contain glucose
TEST FOR ALCOHOL
Experiment :
In a dry test tube add
1 ml of the sample to
be tested. Add a few
drops of ceric
ammonium nitrate
solution and shake the
solution well. Observe the colour
change immediately
Observation:
SL No . Name of drink Observation Conclusion
1 Coca Cola red colour Alcohol present
2 Sprite red colour Alcohol present
3 Limca red colour Alcohol present
4 Fanta red colour Alcohol present

Inference:
All samples contain alcohol as they
give positive test for it
TEST FOR PHOSPHATE22
Experiment:
Small samples of the drinks of
different brands were taken in
separate test tubes and
ammonium Molybdate followed by
nitric acid HNO3 was added to
it Presence of canary yellow
ppt confirmed the presence of
phosphate ions in cold drinks.
Observation:
SL No Name of drink Observation Conclusion
1 Coca Cola Canary yellow ppt Phosphate present
2 Sprite Canary yellow ppt Phosphate present
3 Limca Canary yellow ppt Phosphate present
4 Fanta Canary yellow ppt Phosphate present

Inference:
All samples contain phosphate as they
give positive test for it
Chemical Reactions involved:
PO43-+conc.HNO3 + Ammonium Molybdate
Yellow ppt
TEST FOR SUCROSE
Experiment:

Small samples of cold

drinks of different
brands were taken in
separate China dish
and were strongly
heated until changed occurred. Black
coloured residue left confirmed the
presence of sucrose in the taken
samples.
Observation:
Sl. No Name of drink Observation Conclusion
1 Coca Cola Black residue Sucrose present
2 Sprite Black residue Sucrose present
3 Limca Black residue Sucrose Present
4 Fanta Black residue Sucrose present

Inference:
All cold drinks contain sucrose
TEST FOR CARBOHYDRATE:
Experiment:
Take 2ml of given
sample solution in
a clean test tube.
Add 2 ml of
Fehling's solution
A and Fehling's
solution B to it.
Keep the solution in a boiling water
bath for about 10 minutes. If there is
the formation of red precipitate then
the presence of carbohydrate is
confirmed.
Observation:
SL No . Name of drink Observation Conclusion
1 Coca Cola red ppt carbohydrate present
2 Sprite red ppt carbohydrate present
3 Limca red ppt carbohydrate present
4 Fanta red ppt carbohydrate present

Inference:
All cold drinks contain carbohydrates
RESULT:
After conducting several tests it was
concluded that
different brands of cold drinks namely
1) Coca Cola
2) Sprite
3) Limca
4) Fanta
All contain glucose, sucrose ,alcohol,
phosphate and
carbon Dioxide. All of them are acidic
in nature.
On comparison we found out that sprite
is most
acidic and Fanta is least acidic
amongst all the four
brands taken.
CONCLUSION:
In summary, our project has provided
valuable insights into the composition
of soft drinks. We found that these
beverages commonly contain sugars,
flavourings, acids, and carbonation.
The variations in ingredients among
brands emphasize the importance of
consumer awareness. This study
highlights the need for transparency
in the industry and encourages
informed choices about soft drink
consumption
Soft drinks can be harmful due to
their high sugar content, acidity, and
carbonation. The excessive sugar
contributes to weight gain and health
issues like diabetes, while the
acidity can harm tooth enamel, leading
to dental problems. Carbonation may
cause bloating and discomfort, and the
empty calories provide no nutritional
benefit, potentially leading to
nutrient deficiencies.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF SOFT DRINKS:

The soft drink industry's

environmental impact is a concern that
involves various aspects affecting our
planet. When soft drinks are produced,
they require significant resources
such as water, energy, and raw
materials like sugar and flavourings.
This resource-intensive process can
strain ecosystems, contribute to water
scarcity, and lead to energy-related
greenhouse gas emissions.

The issue of packaging is particularly

prominent. Plastic bottles, commonly
used for soft drinks, can create
substantial waste and contribute to
pollution, especially when not
properly disposed of or recycled. The
environmental implications of
packaging extend to aluminium cans and
glass bottles as well, considering
factors like resource extraction,
recycling rates, and transportation
emissions.

Efforts to address these environmental

challenges are emerging. Some soft
drink companies are exploring eco-
friendly packaging options and
lightweighting materials to reduce
waste. They are also committed to
improving recycling rates and reducing
litter through awareness
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Tests and methods:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti
cle/pii/S2214750015000165

https://innovareacademics.in/

Source:
www.wikipedia.com
Chemistry Lab Manual
EXPERIMENTS