The Surprising Reason Snack Bags Seem Half-Empty

We've all noticed it: That bag of chips we just bought seems like it's mostly air. We've gotten used to it and (almost) stopped complaining, but now we've uncovered the logical reason behind this phenomenon.

According to Business Insider, chip bags are filled not with ordinary air, which contains both oxygen and nitrogen, but with nitrogen alone. Why is that?

The reason is that nitrogen molecules are non-reactive with other molecules, making nitrogen an excellent preservative: it keeps the chips fresh, crispy, and flavorful, extending the product's shelf life. An added bonus of using this natural preservative is that nitrogen is odorless and tasteless, ensuring that the snack retains its original flavor, just like it was when it left the production line.

It's important to understand that nitrogen makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere and is considered a relatively common, tasteless, and odorless element. Nitrogen is essential for all living things. Chip bags are filled with nitrogen instead of regular air because the 21% oxygen in the air would quickly react with its surroundings, causing the chips to become stale and lose their crispy flavor.