Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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}.] (Chem.) (a) Sodium oxide or hydroxide. (b) Popularly, sodium carbonate or bicarbonate. {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}. {Soda water}, originally, a beverage consisting of a weak solution of sodium bicarbonate, with some acid to cause effervescence; now, in common usage, a beverage consisting of water highly charged with carbon dioxide (carbonic acid). Fruit sirups, cream, etc., are usually added to give flavor. See {Carbonic acid}, under {Carbonic}. {Washing soda}, sodium carbonate. [Colloq.]