Effervescence is the escape of gas from an

aqueous solution An aqueous solution is a solution in which the solvent is water. It is mostly shown in chemical equations by appending (aq) to the relevant chemical formula. For example, a solution of table salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), in water would be r ...

and the foaming or fizzing that results from that release. The word effervescence is derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

verb ''fervere'' (to boil), preceded by the adverb ''ex''. It has the same linguistic root as the word

fermentation Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food p ...

. Effervescence can also be observed when opening a bottle of champagne, beer or carbonated beverages such as some carbonated

soft drinks A soft drink (see #Terminology, § Terminology for other names) is a drink that usually contains water (often Carbonated water, carbonated), a Sweetness, sweetener, and a natural and/or Artificial Flavoring, artificial flavoring. The sweetene ...

. The visible bubbles are produced by the escape from solution of the dissolved gas (which itself is not visible while dissolved in the liquid). Although CO₂ is most common for beverages, nitrogen gas is sometimes deliberately added to certain beers. The smaller bubble size creates a smoother beer head. Due to the poor solubility of nitrogen in beer, kegs or widgets are used for this. In the laboratory, a common example of effervescence is seen if

hydrochloric acid Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungent smell. It is classified as a strong acid. It is a component of the gastric acid in the dige ...

is added to a block of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms w ...

. If a few pieces of

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorphose ...

or an antacid tablet are put in hydrochloric acid in a test tube fitted with a bung, effervescence of

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide ( chemical formula ) is a chemical compound made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in the gas state at room temperature. In the air, carbon dioxide is t ...

can be witnessed. :CaCO3 + 2 HCl -> CaCl2 + H2O + CO2 (^) This process is generally represented by the following reaction, where a pressurized dilute solution of carbonic acid in water releases gaseous carbon dioxide at decompression: :H2CO3 -> H2O + CO2 (^) In simple terms, it is the result of the chemical reaction occurring in the liquid which produces a gaseous product.G. Liger-Belair ''et al.'', "Study of Effervescence in a Glass of Champagne: Frequencies of Bubble Formation, Growth Rates, and Velocities of Rising Bubbles"
Am. J. Enol. Vitic.
50:3 (1999), 317–323. Effervescence is also a human characteristic of expression, in tandem with ecstasy or exhuberant joy (associated with The 'fountain of youth').

References

Chemical processes {{Chem-stub

See also

References