Why Does Tapping a Can of Carbonated Drink Stop Fizzing

  • Context: High School 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of tapping a can of carbonated drink to reduce fizzing after it has been shaken. Participants explore the underlying mechanisms of gas solubility and pressure changes in carbonated beverages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the explanation of why tapping a can reduces fizzing, seeking clarity on the underlying reasons.
  • Another participant suggests that agitation causes dissolved gases to escape, proposing this as a primary reason for increased fizzing.
  • A different viewpoint discusses the role of pressure in gas solubility, noting that shaking increases pressure and that tapping may help gas dissolve back into the liquid more quickly.
  • One participant posits that trapping gas increases pressure, which could enhance solubility compared to a scenario where the can is not blocked.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the mechanisms at play, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a consensus on the exact reasons behind the phenomenon.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about gas behavior under pressure and the effects of agitation are discussed, but the discussion does not resolve these complexities or provide definitive conclusions.

matt_crouch
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why does tapping the top of a can of carbonated drink stop it fizzing up after its been shaken?
 
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This sounds like a good explanation... the question is: is it?
 
Why does it happen anyway??

I mean agitating the carbonated fluid makes the gasses dissolved in it escape, in this the reason? (I think it should have been, obviously this is the reason)
 
Carbon dioxide is dissolved at high pressure in the can and when the can is opened the reduction of pressure results in the gas coming out of solution.If the can is shaken beforehand the pressure is increased further due to the reason given by dE logics but with time the gas dissolves again.Tapping the can may reduce the time needed.
 
humm...trapping the gas will increase the pressure which will aid solubility with of the gas, as a result when compared to a case when the bottle was not blocked, the amount of gas that vaporizes should be more.
 

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