What makes soda fizz?
Second only to coffee, soda or soft drink is one of the most consumed beverages around the world. On average, people consume 2.6 glasses of soda a day. This number is higher among adults. People often say the love for soda is attributed to its sweet taste. Furthermore, the fizz that it creates once you pop open a can of soda makes it even more tempting to drink.
One hot summer day, you pop open a can of soft drink to quench the thirst you are feeling, and start wondering why your soda act like that—the fizz that bubbles up. But why is that?
Here’s the science behind that.
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What makes your soda fizz?
The answer behind this can be traced back to the bottling plant. Treated water is first ensured it is safe for use for beverage production. The Quality Assurance department of the bottling company inspects and makes sure that this treated water passes all the requirements it needs before it is served for the production of the beverage. Then, if it does, this treated water is mixed with flavored syrup (usually lime or cola). After that, the liquid is pumped with carbon dioxide or CO2, which dissolves in.
What happens when your soda has CO2?
It forms bubbles, or it becomes fizzy. That introduction of CO2 into the soda usually happens under high pressure up to 1200 pounds per square inch. Then, the liquid is transferred to containers: in can or glass bottle.
What happens if you open a can and don’t consume the content timely? The gas dissolved in the soda will escape in the form of bubbles. The pressure inside lowers as the bubbles rise to the surface and escape, which will result in a “flat” beverage. Obviously, people like that feeling of bubbles popping on the tongue instead of sipping a boring drink.
So, there it is. That’s what makes soda fizz.
