Why do the bubbles in a carbonated beverage all come from the same spot?

Question

When pouring a carbonated beverage in a glass, there is a steady stream of bubbles all originating from the same spots all around the glass. Why aren’t the bubbles random or evenly distributed?

Thanks!

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

They’re called nucleation sites, just a minute physical irregularity in the glass that makes it easier for the saturated gas in the drink to collect at and turn into bubbles. It’s like when ice crystals spontaneously start forming on glass .