Soda pop isn't just a sweet drink; it's also bubbling with chemistry. When you crack open a can or open a bottle, not only do you hear a fizzing sound but you also see bubbles rising and popping. The fizzing sound is actually the chemical process at work!
The Chemical Process of Soda Pop:
Soda pop isn't just a sweet drink; it's also bubbling with chemistry. When you crack open a can or open a bottle, not only do you hear a fizzing sound but you also see bubbles rising and popping. The fizzing sound is actually the chemical process at work!
Why Is Soda Pop Fizzy?
The bubbles — or fizz — in soda pop is a chemical reaction called carbonation. This happens when carbon dioxide dissolves into water or a watery solution under high pressure. For soda pop, manufacturers increase the pressure in a can or bottle so the water molecules can trap the carbon dioxide. There are two types of carbon dioxide at work in soda pop: bubbles and gas that form between the top of the can or bottle and the liquid.
What Does This Mean For Baking?
When baking with cake mix, you don't need to use eggs, oil or even water! You just need a can of soda pop. The carbon dioxide bubbles in soda pop act as a leavening agent — the element that makes baked goods rise and makes them light and fluffy.
Kitchen staple leaveners — like baking soda and baking powder — use a chemical reaction to create carbon dioxide bubbles.