Why Does Shaken Soda Explode?

Are you interested in science and have you wondered why does shaken soda explode? It’s a fact that almost everyone knows, but not many individuals actually know the scientific reasoning behind it. Why should you not shake soda, and why does shaken soda explode?

The reason behind why does shaken soda explode involves carbonation. The term carbonation is the dissolving of carbon dioxide into a solution. First the carbon dioxide is highly pressurized.

Then, this pressure of this highly pressurized mixture is lowered, and the carbon dioxide is released from this solution as bubbles. You can see the bubbles when you shake a soda. In soda, carbonation is created by adding dissolved carbon dioxide and carbonic acid into the liquid.

Why Is Soda Carbonated?

Carbonation is added to soft drinks to give the soft drinks a “bite” to them. Carbonation creates a slightly burning sensation when you drink it, and consumers enjoy this fizzy taste.

The bubbles do not create this burning sensation, but rather the diluted carbonic acid in carbonated soft drinks causes this sensation. Although, the reason behind the “bite” of carbonation will depend on the soda. For example, in Coca Cola, the “bite” is caused by phosphoric acid, rather than carbonic acid. Aside from taste, carbonation is also added to soda to reduce the availability of free oxygen in the liquid.

Carbon Dioxide In the Soda

In an unopened bottle of soda, an equilibrium has been created between the dissolved carbon dioxide in the soda, and the carbon dioxide that is in the air between the liquid and the cap. When you open the soda bottle, the carbon dioxide that is sitting between the liquid and the cap is released. This is the fizzing noise that you hear when you open the soda bottle.

The pressure that has built up is being released. However, simply opening an unopened bottle of soda that has been sitting for awhile will not explode in your face. Yet, if this bottle is shaken (by you, or even just by falling on the floor), the carbon dioxide that is sitting between the liquid and the cap gets suspended back into the liquid. The equilibrium is broken.

This carbon dioxide that is reintroduced back into the liquid forms larger bubbles in the soda (although this is not necessarily visible to you). These bubbles are larger than the bubbles of the dissolved carbon dioxide that was already in the soda. Thus, when you then go to open the shaken bottle of soda, these larger bubbles rise extremely quickly to the surface.

The bubbles also exert more pressure as they push through the soda, which is what also brings the liquid up to the top of the soda bottle. This is what causes the bottle of soda to then explode all over you! The more that a soda is shaken, the more that the carbon dioxide at the top mixes with the liquid, and the more amount of pressure that needs to be released, and thus the bigger the explosion will be.

Avoiding the Explosion

Is there any way to avoid this explosion? Well, if you let the bottle sit for a certain amount of time, the equilibrium can be recreated in the soda. How long should you let the bottle sit for? At least fifteen to twenty minutes. The extra carbonation in the liquid soon moves back up to the top, instead of staying in the soda.

Additionally, it depends how wide the opening is on your soda bottle. The larger the opening, the smaller the explosion will be. This is because there is more space for the carbon dioxide to escape from. If the bottle has a large opening, you can let it sit for a shorter period.

You also might be able to open the drink, if you open it extremely slowly. By opening it extremely slowly, you are gently releasing the pressure of the carbon dioxide. However, you must do this very carefully!