Carbonic acid – What is it and how do bubbles form?

Carbon dioxide in water is commonly referred to as carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a chemical compound containing carbon dioxide gas. Carbonic acid is formed when carbon dioxide reacts with an aqueous solution

The size of the bubbles depends on the ratio of carbon dioxide to liquid.

Carbon dioxide becomes carbonic acid

Carbonated soft drinks are produced by compressing carbon dioxide under high pressure into the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution binds carbon dioxide, as a result of which bubbles are created in the liquid. They occur when gas molecules dissolve in water and settle between water molecules. A very small number of carbon dioxide molecules also react with the water molecule and form the actual carbon dioxide bubbles. Consider that one carbon dioxide molecule (CO2) takes OH from the water molecule (H2O). The second H of the water molecule is combined with O and thus the carbonated molecule (H2CO3) is formed.

Carbonated bubbles move all the time as they contain both negative and positive ions. They act like two magnets: when you place the plus poles against each other, they zoom out from each other. Carbon dioxide bubbles also work in the same way.

Sour and strong fragrance

New research has shown that carbonic acid activates the acidic receptors in the taste buds and thus makes the drink taste less sweet. In addition, carbonic acid seems to increase the smell. When the carbonated drink sparkles, the bubbles in the drink break down into a fine mist and more fragrance molecules end up in the nose.

Small and large bubbles

The size of bubbles depends on the ratio of carbon dioxide to liquid. The more carbon dioxide there is compared to the liquid, the larger the bubbles. If you carbonate the water yourself, you can therefore influence the size of the bubbles yourself.