Sodas are those flavored fizzy drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
The "fizziness" is due to carbonation or carbon dioxide dissolved within the drink. When sodas are made, carbon dioxide is forced into the liquid under pressure so that there's more gas dissolved in the liquid than at regular air pressure. The bubbles you see and feel is caused by the carbon dioxide gas being released back into the air when exposed to back into regular air pressure (a closed can or bottle keeps the carbon dioxide under pressure within the liquid).
Such machines can even be purchased to make sodas at home (see below).
A soda becomes flat when all the carbon dioxide has been released back into the air.
In any case, why the burn?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) together undergo a chemical reaction to form a very weak acid called carbonic acid (H2CO3).
CO2 + H2O <--> H2CO3
So, after drinking some soda, the CO2 that is released reacts with the water inside your mouth, throat, and belly. The resulting carbonic acid, some of which is aerosolized, can than be burped up into the nose.
The nasal lining is quite sensitive, and when in contact with carbonic acid, can cause a burning sensation.
Now... does this actually happen?
Well, sounds like a potential neat research project that can potentially even be done by a high school student.
7 comments:
it happened to me maybe twice or three times and it hurt and i was curious too
Thanks!
Thanks it cleared up some burning questions
Now my question is, why does it happen more often and more extreme to some people? I have this problem bad xD Every time I drink soda, my nose flares pretty violently and a I can almost never take a sip, without having to burp directly afterwards.
It is the CO2 receptors cells/trigeminal nerve in the nasal lining/region that becomes stimulated by CO2 gas , not by carbonic acid. Age, sex, M or F, smokers or non smoker can determine onces sensitivity of CO2. Generally younger, females experience more of a burning sensation. The more receptor cells one has the more likely it is to have an intense sensation.
I get this every time I drink a fizzy drink and burp after even sipping a small amount of a fizzy drink, I'm not sure if this is anything or just normal for some people
haha good pun
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