Okay, geniuses... Can you answer this?

Question

Will a plastic bottle of carbonated beverage (Coke, etc., blah blah) cool down faster in the fridge if it is no longer "factory fresh"?

In other words ('cause my brain pales in comparison to yours) will a highly pressurized bottle take more time to become cold when in the refrigerator than a bottle that has been opened?

Thanks ya'll!

Answer 1

This isn't so much if the trapped carbonation contains energy (it really doesn't, this is more of a reduced "chemical" reaction), but rather what you're are attempting to chill.

An unopened soda bottle still contains its full "allotment" of carbonation, some of which has leaked to the little gap between the cap and the soda. This pressurizes the bottles contents, making it take more energy to chill.

An open bottle has released some of this pressure and the make-up of the contents of the bottle now also shifts. The soda has become slightly more dense, which will aid in the chilling process.

So an open bottle of soda will refrigerate "slightly" faster than an unopened bottle. The variance is less than two degrees per hour.

The bigger question is should the nation decide on a uniform term -- do we embrace "pop" or "soda" for these beverages?

Answer 2

A bottle under pressure should take longer to cool down as it has more energy within it. The molecules are more excited under pressure. This energy gives off heat as its last by-product. Even though it is a small amount it is enough to make a difference between the two.

Answer 3

Wow. Made me feel stupid. Got no idea! I kinda think it'll get as cold as it's gonna get, open or not.

Answer 4

it should have the same volume, same amount of time to cool down

Answer 5

hey,you got me an assignment.i will experiment to verify that.

Answer 6

I think this question just gave me gas...