Opening a can or bottle of soda or sparkling water always produces fizz and bubbles. That’s because of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is used in all types of carbonated beverages. If you run a restaurant or bar, you’ll need this gas in your soda fountains and beer taps. Here’s a closer look at how CO2 gives these drinks their characteristic taste and effervescence. 

How Does Carbonation in Soda Work?

After opening a bottle of water hooked to a keg of beer, English chemist Joseph Priestley detected gas escaping from it. In 1767, this discovery led him to devise a method of dissolving carbon dioxide into water to make carbonated water, which paved the way for soft drinks. 

Nowadays, to make soda, a tube releases CO2 into a liquid solution of water and syrup. When confined in a sealed container, the liquids absorb enough carbon dioxide to achieve equilibrium, which happens when pressure prevents the dissolved gas from escaping. 

Aside from gas pressure, low temperatures also allow drinks to remain carbonated. Carbon dioxide dissolves better in cold water, so the colder the solution, the more CO2 is absorbed. 

How Does Carbon Dioxide Affect Flavor?

Soft drinks and sparkling water only turn bubbly when you expose them to air. Doing so releases pressure in the container and lets out the carbon dioxide, which reacts with the solution to create a chemical compound called carbonic acid. This relatively weak acid gives the drink a tangy taste. The bubbles also make the beverage more aromatic, which amplifies the drinker’s perception of flavor.

As more gas escapes through rising bubbles, the water or soda loses its fizziness and starts to go flat. How quickly this happens depends on the container, since the wider the mouth, the more CO2 is allowed to escape. To retain the original flavor and make carbonation last longer, the drinker should reduce the liquid’s exposure to air and keep the beverage cold.

When you need carbon dioxide for the soda fountains or beer taps in your business, look no further than Wayne Oxygen & Welding Supply Co. With locations in Waynesboro, Charlottesville, and Harrisonburg, VA, they carry CO2 for beverage uses across the state of Virginia. They have experience servicing all kinds of gas supply needs in a variety of scales and settings. Call (540) 942-4145 to discuss their products, or learn more about beverage CO2 online.