Why does soda hiss?

Soda or sparkling water is any soft drink made from regular or sweetened water with lots of bubbles. At the same time, soda can be slightly carbonated, medium carbonated or highly carbonated — depending on the number of these same bubbles in the drink.

Soda was first invented in 1767. British chemist Joseph Priestley worked as an ordinary brewer. Since bubbles naturally appear in beer by adding brewer’s yeast, Joseph decided to come up with a way to increase the amount of bubbles in the drink — after all, the more bubbles in the beer, the thinner, brighter and more interesting its taste! The English brewer worked for a long time and eventually created an apparatus called saturator.

The carbonator was used to make any drink carbonated. To do this, it was necessary to saturate the drink with a large amount of carbon dioxide, a substance that people release during breathing (we absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide).

So what’s with the hiss? And why does soda fizz at all?

Why soda fizzes

It turns out that it is carbon dioxide that gives fizz to carbonated drinks. Without it, we would not hear the characteristic sound «Pshshsh!» When we open a bottle of Coca-Cola or Duchess.

Carbon dioxide is found in all sodas. And there is a lot of it — after all, this is the main component of the drink! Without it, lemonades and mineral waters would be ordinary sweet and uninteresting water.

When soda is poured into bottles at the factory, with the help of a saturator, the same apparatus that was mentioned above, sweet water is carbonated. It is filled with a huge amount of carbon dioxide under high pressure. And so that in 10 minutes all the carbon dioxide does not disappear along with the bubbles, the bottle cap is tightly closed, locking the gas.

So it turns out that when we open the bottle cap, all the carbon dioxide rushes out! The bubbles quickly come to the surface, burst and thus create a special sound — the very hiss that fascinates many people.

Why fizzy soda stings your nose and mouth

Probably, many have noticed that when you drink soda, it not only continues to hiss on the tongue, but also begins to “prick” in the nose and throat. Why is this happening and is it related to carbon dioxide? After all, if you drink ordinary water, tea or compote, then you won’t feel anything “pungent” on your tongue.

It turns out, yes, it is connected! Previously, people thought that those same bubbles were to blame for everything. At first it was believed that when they burst, they create a special “causticity” that irritates the receptors on the tongue.

But it turned out that it was all about carbonic acid. When we drink soda, part of the carbon dioxide turns into bubbles, and the other part turns into carbon dioxide — carbonic acid. It is she who creates the causticity and slight sharpness on the tongue!

Why is gas added to water?

Why is gas added to drinks? Is it just to make them hiss and create a special mood? Not at all! Carbonated water is not only for our fun.

First of all, carbon dioxide is considered one of the best preservatives. What is a preservative? This is a substance that helps the liquid retain its freshness and beneficial properties for a long time. For example, if ordinary water is saturated with carbon dioxide, then it can be safely transported to stores in the farthest corners of the country without worrying that it will deteriorate during transportation and long storage.

Another reason is taste. For example, real mineral water, extracted from deep wells, has a specific smell and taste — not everyone will agree to drink it in its natural form. But if you add gas there with the help of a saturator, then the taste of mineral water will become softer and more pleasant.

It is not for nothing that even during the existence of the Soviet Union, there were large saturators on the streets. With their help, it was possible to carbonate water with sweet syrup. And in the heat, such a fizzy soda was the best way to quench your thirst!

So, why soda fizzes? Hissing sounds when opening a bottle and drinking are formed due to carbon dioxide, which is part of carbonated drinks. Carbon dioxide creates bubbles that beautifully rise to the surface and burst. The more bubbles and the smaller they are, the longer and louder the drink fizzes.