How did Jan Baptista van Helmont contribute to the study of gases in carbonated water?

Jan Baptista van Helmont did not directly invent carbonated water, but his foundational research into gases was essential to its development. In the 17th century, as European scientists sought to imitate the naturally effervescent waters of famous springs for their therapeutic value, they recognized that the effervescence was a critical feature.1

Van Helmont’s primary contribution was the identification of discrete gases, which he distinguished from vapors or mists. He coined the term gas—derived from the word "chaos"—to describe these substances. Specifically, he identified carbon dioxide as one of these gases. By establishing that this gaseous content was responsible for the properties of certain substances, he provided the scientific framework that later researchers, such as Joseph Black and Joseph Priestley, used to understand and eventually replicate the carbonation process in soft drinks.21