Is a soft drink processed or natural material?

* Ingredients: Soft drinks are made from a combination of ingredients that are not found naturally together. These include:

* Water: While water is natural, it's often treated and purified.

* Sugar: This is extracted from plants (sugarcane or beets) but it undergoes extensive processing.

* Artificial sweeteners: These are synthetic chemicals.

* Flavorings: These can be natural extracts or artificial flavors.

* Acids: Often citric acid or phosphoric acid, which are added to give a tart taste.

* Carbon dioxide: This gives the drink its fizz and is produced industrially.

* Colorings: These can be natural or artificial.

* Manufacturing: The ingredients are mixed, combined, and processed in factories.

* Packaging: Soft drinks are packaged in bottles or cans, which are also manufactured materials.

While some soft drinks might use some natural ingredients, the overall process of creating a soft drink involves significant processing and manipulation of materials.