By: Emily Wieman

CHEMISTRY OF CARBONATION

Summary• We see soft drinks everyday• Many of us do not know what gives

them their flavor

• Carbonation

Chemistry• Carbonation is having CO2

dissolved in another liquid• H2O +CO2=H2CO3• This is a double arrow

reaction so it can go back if put in right conditions• Without carbonation the

flavor of the beverages would be grotesque (“The Fizz of Coca-Cola” 1)

http://ursoftstore.blogspot.com/2011/06/seven-nightmare-space-foods-for.html

Escape of Carbonation• When opening a soda you

often hear that SHHHH noise.• Let me explain……• This noise is caused by the

release of the Co2 atoms• This is the reason that is

your drink is flat it means that too much of your carbonation has escaped. (“The Fizz of Coca-Cola” 1)

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Prevention• What can be done to

preserve the flavor• One method:• Cooling automatically slows

down the particles from escaping into the air.• It also helps the soft drinks

to contain more carbonation (Sonstroem 1).

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/01/study-nearly-half-of-soda-fountains-contaminated-with-coliform-bacteria.html

Prevention continued….

• Another method:• Some companies add extra

CO2 at the top so that if any escape it is not all of them (Sonstroem 1)• Another Method:• Some sodas, such as coke,

add chemicals such as phosphoric acid to make up for the lack of carbonation (“The Fizz of Coca-Cola” 1)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0410/Coke-stock-possibly-worth-130-million-found-at-a-garage-sale

Implication•In everyday life, we are drinking these carbonated beverages constantly•In order to improve our soft drink experience we need to take into consideration carbonation.

http://indianapublicmedia.org/eartheats/soda-tax-chance/

Works cited• "Carbon Dioxide." infoplease. Pearson Education, 2012. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/carbon-dioxide.html>.• "The Fizz of Coca-Cola." CurioCity. Let's Talk Science, 16 Feb. 2006. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. <http://www.explorecuriocity.org/ Content.aspx?contentid=306>.• Sonstroem, Eric. "From Fizz To Flat: The Science Of Soda Pop." Moment of Science. The Trustees of Indiana University, 18 Oct. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/fizz-flat-science-soda-pop/>.