As I understand it it's a combination of both
As she says, bubbles can form on a surface (nucleation sites), but existing bubbles (such as those you would find in the rough surface of a mint) are exceptionally good at seeding new bubbles.
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TheAlmightyBeev, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 17:56,
Reply)
Fair do's
I've been involved in a project to keep CO2 in solution (in carbonated drinks) even under low pressure. There's chemical as well as physical ways to do it, and it's all surface-tension related.
(, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 18:02, Reply)