Soda water, an early form of carbonated water, was invented by which chemist?

Introduction / Context:
Soda water, also called carbonated water, is simply water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved. Its invention opened the way for the soft drink industry. This question examines whether you can associate soda water with Joseph Priestley, a chemist and theologian who discovered a method to infuse water with carbon dioxide in the eighteenth century.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The invention mentioned is soda water or carbonated water.
• Options include Tivadar Puskas, Joseph Priestley, Petrache Poenaru, and James Leonard Plimpton.
• We assume the question refers to the first successful method of artificially carbonating water using carbon dioxide gas.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to link each inventor with the correct area of innovation. Joseph Priestley is known for work in chemistry, including the invention of carbonated water. Tivadar Puskas is associated with telephone exchanges, Petrache Poenaru with fountain pens, and James Leonard Plimpton with roller skates. Once these pairings are remembered, it becomes very easy to identify Priestley as the correct name for soda water.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on soda water as a chemical and industrial product created by dissolving carbon dioxide in water.
Step 2: Recall that Joseph Priestley carried out experiments in which he exposed water to carbon dioxide produced from fermenting beer and found that it gained a pleasant, sparkling taste.
Step 3: Understand that Tivadar Puskas worked with telephone technology and not with beverages.
Step 4: Recognise that Petrache Poenaru designed a modern type of fountain pen.
Step 5: Note that James Leonard Plimpton developed the modern roller skate, which is unrelated to carbonated drinks.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember that many histories of soft drinks mention Priestley as the first to create artificial carbonated water and describe his 1767 experiments in a brewery environment. None of the other names appear in these accounts. This consistency across scientific and historical sources supports the selection of Priestley as the inventor of soda water.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tivadar Puskas is wrong because his work focused on telephone exchanges. Petrache Poenaru is wrong because he is credited with improvements in writing instruments, not beverages. James Leonard Plimpton is wrong because he is linked with roller skates and recreational equipment. Therefore, these options do not match the chemical and beverage based invention discussed in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is that students may not have strong mental associations for some of these names and may attempt random guessing. To avoid this, create a small set of inventor cards where each of these lesser known inventors is paired with one clear invention. For example, Priestley with soda water, Poenaru with fountain pen, and Plimpton with roller skates. During revision, quickly reviewing these cards will make such questions straightforward to answer.

Final Answer:
Soda water was invented by Joseph Priestley.