• Question: Why do carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolve in water?

    Asked by linguofu to Hermine, Katy, Laura, Nathalie, Paula on 15 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Paula Salgado

      Paula Salgado answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      It basically reacts with it, forming a weak solution of carbonic acid:

      First, there’s an equilibrium between gas and aqueous forms of CO2:

      CO2(g) CO2(aq)

      CO2 slowly acquires a shell of water molecules. A small fraction of these hydrated CO2 reacts with water to produce carbonic acid (H2CO3):

      CO2(aq) + H2O H2CO3(aq)

      This is what which gives carbonated water the ‘tingly’ taste on your tongue. 😉

    • Photo: Nathalie Pettorelli

      Nathalie Pettorelli answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      It’s C and O loving each others a lot – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonation 😉

    • Photo: Laura Dixon

      Laura Dixon answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Ummm, it has to do with the O molecules bonding to the hydrogen in water (i think!)
      Tough question! 🙂

    • Photo: Katy Mee

      Katy Mee answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      I can honestly say I have no idea – but i’m sure one of the others will know the answer!

    • Photo: Hermine Schnetler

      Hermine Schnetler answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      All gases can be absorbed by water. Have you ever stirred sugar into a cup of coffee? That’s a solid being absorbed, that’s an amazing idea – so a gas getting absorbed shouldn’t sound so surprising. It’s all about the spaces between the water molelcules, there’s lots of them, and the carbon dioxide, or the sugar can effectively fit into the spaces.

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