eli5: Why is co2 the gas used to pressurize drinks. Why can’t something like nitrogen or atmosphere air be used.
In: 2772
Well, Open air is 25% oxygen, and oxygen is a no-go. Oxygen oxidizes things, and that tastes bad; ever tasted sliced up fruit left on the counter to open air for a day? Tastes like wet, sweetened cardboard.
If we deoxygenated the air, that’s cool tho. Nitrogen can add a creamy taste/feel, so it’s common in things like whipped cream and coffee. But that’s comparatively expensive to do.
CO2 adds a bit of an acidic taste that people also enjoy, and it has the bonus of being a byproduct of alcohol production, meaning it’s basically free. Soda companies can just buy CO2 from brewers for comparative pennies, and use it to fluff up their drinks
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