What causers fizzy drinks to go flat?

The culprit behind fizzy drinks going flat is the loss of carbon dioxide (CO2). Here's how it works:

* Dissolved CO2: Fizzy drinks get their fizz from CO2 dissolved under pressure in the liquid. This creates tiny bubbles that give the drink its characteristic effervescence.

* Pressure Drop: When you open a can or bottle, the pressure inside decreases. This allows the dissolved CO2 to escape from the liquid as gas bubbles.

* Temperature: Warm temperatures also speed up the escape of CO2. That's why your soda goes flat faster on a hot day.

* Exposure to Air: Contact with air also helps to remove CO2 from the solution, contributing to the drink going flat.

Other factors that can accelerate the process:

* Shaking: Shaking the bottle or can creates more surface area for the CO2 to escape, causing it to go flat faster.

* Open container: Leaving a drink open for a long time exposes it to more air and allows CO2 to escape readily.

* Stirring: Stirring the drink encourages the formation of larger bubbles, which rise to the surface and escape more quickly.

In short: Fizzy drinks go flat because the carbon dioxide that creates their fizz escapes from the liquid as the pressure drops and they are exposed to air.