3 ms·
I'm no chemist, but couldn't you just add a base to neutralize the phosphoric acid (e.g. calcium carbonate)?
by lpgauth 12y ago
I'm no chemist, but couldn't you just add a base to neutralize the phosphoric acid (e.g. calcium carbonate)?
- MAGZine 12y agoif you were interested in adding salt and water (the by products of a neutralization reaction) to the drink, then yes.
- refurb 12y agoSalt? Sodium chloride? Or you mean the salt of phosphoric acid?
- owenversteeg 12y agoA salt, not salt. Salt: sodium chloride (NaCl, table salt, etc.) A salt: an ionic compound from an acid-base neutralization
- rectangletangle 12y agoYes, but it'd probably alter the flavor for the worse.
- wycx 12y agoYou would make a phosphate salt. Depending on its solubility, it may precipitate. Depending on the log K, your cola might no longer be acidic at all, and as others have suggested, not taste as nice, making the addition of both the phosphoric acid and calcium carbonate pointless. 2 H3PO4 + 3 CaCO3 -> Ca3(PO4)2 + 3 H2O + 3 CO2 The calcium phosphate phase listed above may not be the stable phase in cola solution at NTP, but is the simplest example.
- runeks 12y agoHow about intentionally adding a base that creates a very water-insoluble salt? Then the process is just 1) add base 2) filter 3) re-carbonate it, and you have non-acidic coke.