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mineral water
mineral water Water, often collected from hot springs, containing high concentrations of dissolved salts has been popular for drinking and bathing for centuries, partly for its reputed therapeutic benefits. Interest in these waters was largely responsible for the development of the field of water chemistry. Various geological and hydrological processes are responsible for generating thermal springs. Many are associated with recent volcanic activitity; others result from features such as permeable faults that provide short circuits between deep groundwater flow systems and the land surface.
Mineral waters are extremely variable in composition. High levels of dissolved carbon dioxide provide a natural effervescence that is especially popular in commercial mineral waters. An artificial carbonation process, developed in the early 1800s, provides the effervescence in many modern bottled waters and sodas. Salts enter the water when mineral surfaces in contact with the water dissolve. Other constituents of mineral waters that were once thought to have beneficial effects, such as radium and radon, are now recognized as posing potential health threats and are no longer considered desirable in bottled water. J. Bahr |
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Cite this article
PAUL HANCOCK and BRIAN J. SKINNER. "mineral water." The Oxford Companion to the Earth. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PAUL HANCOCK and BRIAN J. SKINNER. "mineral water." The Oxford Companion to the Earth. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O112-mineralwater.html PAUL HANCOCK and BRIAN J. SKINNER. "mineral water." The Oxford Companion to the Earth. 2000. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O112-mineralwater.html |
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mineral water
mineral water Natural, untreated, spring waters, some of which are naturally carbonated, may be slightly alkaline or salty. Numerous health claims have been made for the benefits arising from the traces of a large number of minerals found in solution. They are normally named after the town nearest the source. Examples are Evian, Malvern, Apollinaris, Vichy, Vittel, Perrier.
Sparkling mineral water may either contain the gases naturally present at the source or may be artificially carbonated (soda water, Seltzer water, or club soda). Carbonated beverages are sometimes called minerals. |
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Cite this article
DAVID A. BENDER. "mineral water." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "mineral water." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-mineralwater.html DAVID A. BENDER. "mineral water." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-mineralwater.html |
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mineral water
mineral water spring water containing various mineral salts, especially the carbonates, chlorides, phosphates, silicates, sulfides, and sulfates of calcium, iron, lithium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and other metals. Various gases may also be present, e.g., carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and inert gases. Ordinary well or spring water, in contrast, contains far fewer substances, mostly dissolved sulfates and carbonates, and calcium and other alkali and alkaline earth metals. Many mineral waters also contain trace elements that are thought to have therapeutic value. Spa therapy, widely practiced in Europe, advocates bathing in and drinking mineral waters as a cure for a variety of diseases. Many authorities believe that the success of such therapy really results from the beneficial effects of rest and relaxation. Famous European resorts include Bath, Spa, Aix-les-Bains, Aachen, Baden-Baden, and Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad). Prominent among resorts in the United States are Poland, Maine; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Berkeley Springs and White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; Hot Springs, Ark.; French Lick, Ind.; Waukesha, Wis.; and Las Vegas Hot Springs, N.Mex. Many mineral waters are now prepared synthetically, the various mineral ingredients being added to ordinary water in proportions determined by careful chemical analysis of the original ingredients. See spring . |
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"mineral water." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "mineral water." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-mineralw.html "mineral water." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-mineralw.html |
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Mineral Wells
Mineral Wells city (1990 pop. 14,870), Palo Pinto and Parker counties, N Tex.; inc. 1882. Aluminum products, bottled mineral water, clothing, and pharmaceuticals are produced, and there is gas processing. The mineral water made this hill city a popular health resort in the late 19th and early 20th cent., and oil activity in the area also spurred the city's growth. To the east is Lake Mineral Wells, a reservoir in the Trinity River system. |
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"Mineral Wells." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Mineral Wells." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MineralW.html "Mineral Wells." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MineralW.html |
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mineral water
min·er·al wa·ter • n. water found in nature with some dissolved salts present. ∎ chiefly Brit. an artificial imitation of this, esp. soda water. |
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"mineral water." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "mineral water." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mineralwater.html "mineral water." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mineralwater.html |
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water, mineral
water, mineral See mineral water.
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Cite this article
DAVID A. BENDER. "water, mineral." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "water, mineral." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-watermineral.html DAVID A. BENDER. "water, mineral." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-watermineral.html |
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