• Question: Why does soda pop?/

    Asked by priya26 to Tim, Tom on 6 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 6 Jul 2012:

      And why does a diamond ring? Sorry, Dumbo songs in my head…

      I believe that soda is made by pumping carbon dioxide into water, where it dissolves under high pressure to become carbonic acid – once the pressure is released, the carbonic acid (liquid) turns back into carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide, being a gas, takes up more space:

      So, the bottle is kept under pressure to stop the carbon dioxide releasing – which causes the initial pop. This is helped along by the expansion of carbonic acid into water and carbon dioxide (hence the bubbles)

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 6 Jul 2012:

      Nice answer Tom. I don’t think I can add anything except: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_Coke_and_Mentos_eruption

      😉

Comments