# Cola chemistry questions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-chemistry-questions/62165>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 16, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-chemistry-questions/62165 "2001-04-16T15:15:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-chemistry-questions/62165/1 "2001-04-16T15:15:03Z")

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1. When you shake a carbonated beverage, and open it, all the liberated carbon dioxide spews out. However, if you wait long enough, it will become resorbed, and you can open it without any premature release. Why is it resorbed so easily, as opposed to just staying mixed in with the air already inside the bottle?

2. I assume that the liberated carbon dioxide is the product of the breakdown of carbonic acid. If so, why is carbonic acid so unstable that it flies apart if it’s shaken?

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**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-chemistry-questions/62165/2 "2001-04-16T16:24:08Z")

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1. It’s very soluble, especially at high pressure (like inside the bottle)

2. Weak bonds. Actually, the carbonic acid in sodas is the product of CO[sub]2[/sub] (dissolved under pressure during the sodamaking process) and water.

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**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-chemistry-questions/62165/3 "2001-04-16T16:27:22Z")

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1. Also, only a little bit of the CO[sub]2[/sub] makes carbonic acid. You’re just seeing the non-acid CO[sub]2[/sub] un-dissolving from the water.