A comparative study of reported theoretical and experimental investigations evaluating the numbers and sizes of bubbles emerging from submerged orifices reveals that the lack of consistency can be attributed largely to faulty experimental techniques. Errors are attributed to an inadequate knowledge of the influence of the surface properties of the solid and liquid media on the emission process and to the lack of standardization of the equipment geometries especially regarding the pressure chambers and orifice plates. The analyses provide guidance to designing standardized equipment to produce reproducible bubbles.