Soda pop (also known as soda and pop) is a soft drink made from carbonated water and syrup. The water is carbonated by the addition of carbon dioxide gas. The syrup consists of sweeteners and a concentrate that is a mixture of flavoring and acid; sometimes coloring is also added. Typically, a soda pop company manufactures the syrup or concentrate and then sells it to a franchised bottler, who adds carbonated water (plus sweetener, if just concentrate is being used) and then bottles and sells the finished drink. Soda pop got its name from the term "soda water," used for carbonated water, and from the popping sound made by the cork stoppers when pulled out of the bottles.

Soda pop made its first appearance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1830s, but it did not become widely popular until the last quarter of the century. Most soda...