How is carbonic acid formed in naturally sparkling or spontaneously carbonated mineral waters?
Answer
Trapped underground $ ext{CO}_2$ comes out of solution when pressure is released upon reaching the surface.
Naturally sparkling mineral waters achieve their carbonation through geological processes occurring underground. In these sources, carbon dioxide gas is naturally trapped within the water under immense subsurface pressure. When this mineral water is brought to the surface, the hydrostatic pressure drops considerably. This reduction in pressure forces the dissolved $ ext{CO}_2$ to come out of solution, and subsequently, a fraction of this released gas reacts with the water to form carbonic acid in situ. This differs fundamentally from artificial carbonation, where pressure is applied mechanically in a controlled environment.
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