# keeping fizz in pop bottles **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307 "2003-11-20T14:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mattfjohnsonuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@mattfjohnsonuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattfjohnsonuk)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307/41 "2003-11-28T20:21:58Z")
Ok, ive not finished reading all the replies to my boyfriends first post, but i realise theres some confusion over what I do… I drink a glass of coke, and then with the top off the bottle I squeeze the liquid as far up the bottle as possible and replace the lid. Therefore leaving a very squashed bottle of coke, with only as small amount of air (as is possible) at the top. Ok convince me this doesnt work!! (ill read all the replies now) ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307/42 "2003-11-28T22:11:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mattfjohnsonuk \* > \*\*Ok, ive not finished reading all the replies to my boyfriends first post, but i realise theres some confusion over what I do… > > I drink a glass of coke, and then with the top off the bottle I squeeze the liquid as far up the bottle as possible and replace the lid. Therefore leaving a very squashed bottle of coke, with only as small amount of air (as is possible) at the top. > > Ok convince me this doesnt work!! (ill read all the replies now) \*\* Reading the earlier replies should clarify why your carbonation-preservation method won’t work. But if you were drinking wine rather than Coke, your method would help prevent oxidation of the remaining amount due to reduced volume of air in the bottle (and surface area of liquid in contact with the air). [snob]Of course, if you were drinking wine from plastic bottles, you’ve got bigger problems than a little oxidation.[/snob] A Goldbergian alternative which doesn’t seem to have been suggested so far is to squeeze the bottle, then put a big ol’ clamp on it so it can’t return to its original shape. Of course, then you’d end up with a big ol’ clamp taking up space in your fridge. Personally, I’d suggest just drinking all the Coke before it goes flat, and using the extra ingested carbonation to conduct belching contests with your boyfriend. It’ll be a bonding experience. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307/43 "2003-11-29T03:35:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glilly \* > \*\*I didn’t mean to make it sound like you hadn’t left it along for long enough, but instead, you DID leave it for the right amount of time (for your average coke drinker), and that not reaching equilibruim may be an explanation as to why the bottle did not reform. I mean, hey, we’ve got busy lives. If thermodynamics can’t keep up, it’s just going to get left behind!🙂 > \*\* Actually, since it may be the diffusion co-efficient that is important, my experiment might have been invalid. While the CO content of creamy soda is larger than that of coke, its diffusion rate is noticablely lower. Creamy soda stays far more carbonated under normal use. I guess someone else is going to have to take up the mantle as I don’t go out of my way to drink coke. Seeing as **mattfjohnsonuk** and co drink coke on a regular basis, I think they are prefectly suited to take up this next phase of experimentation 🙂 > [@](#): > > \*\* > I’d always thought that shaking the bottle would just make it return to equilibrium faster, like dropping a crystal into supercooled liquid, but maybe it does actually force the gas/liquid to the other side of equilibrium – too much gas pp, not enough dissolved. > \*\* No, think of it this way, vigourously shake a bottle of coke and then open it and allow to come into equilibrium, pour a drink and see how flat it is. FAR more CO2 escapes due to shaking than normal. > [@](#): > > \*\* > I’ve been trying to figure out how to attach a pressure guage to a 2-liter. Then we could do all kinds of experiments. How long does a bottle take to come to equilibrium? Does shaking a bottle at eq pressurize it? > \*\* A quick and dirty way of doing it would be to attach a fairly thick balloon to the end of the coke bottle and measure the size when at equilibrium. Then, you can hook up a pressure gauge to the balloon at the same size and get a rough idea as to the pressure. You don’t need to get it exactly right as long as you can find the pressure co-efficient of the balloon. > [@](#): > > \*\* > And how much does a 2-L cost in HK? \*\* Right now, about $1.20 USD on special. ---
**Author:** ![Blown\_Injected](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307/44 "2003-11-29T04:42:53Z")
sorry, did not read all the posts I have poured about 1/3 of a 2L bottle, squeezed the bottle until the soda was less than 1/2" from the top, capped the bottle, and then put the bottle under lots of pressure form two clamps. ALSO, just tried the clamps on an undeformed bottle about 2/3 full. It made no damn difference as far as drinking quality is concerned - just try to finish it, but since a 2L is about half the price of the 20 ounce bottle, WTH? ---
**Author:** ![Sinungaling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Sinungaling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinungaling)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307/45 "2003-11-29T05:15:31Z")
I suppose I’m the only one who thought it said “jizz” instead. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307/46 "2003-11-29T06:19:15Z")
Just thought I’d throw another variable in for y’all. If you do buy 2l. sodas and aren’t going to finish them right away. Be sure to get them cold in the frig. before you open it. Then after you pour what you want, cap it and put it back in the box. A hot soda opened first and then put in the box’ll go flat quick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-fizz-in-pop-bottles/214307.md?page=2)