Why do mentos cause soda to explode

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A soda geyser is a physical reaction between a carbonated beverage, usually Diet Coke , and Mentos mints that causes the beverage to be expelled from its container. The candies catalyze the release of gas from the beverage, which creates an eruption that pushes most of the liquid up and out of the bottle. The tubes of candies were threaded onto a pipe cleaner and dropped into the soft drink to create a geyser. At the end of the s, the manufacturer of Wintergreen Lifesavers increased the size of the mints, and they no longer fit in the mouth of soda bottles. Science teachers found that Mentos candies had the same effect when dropped into a bottle of any carbonated soft drink. The experiment became a subject of the television show MythBusters in

Why do mentos cause soda to explode

What causes Coke to explode when Mentos are added to it? One would think that there must be a chemical reaction that causes the Coke and Mentos reaction to be so attractive and satisfying. The gas tries to escape and form bubbles around any irregular surface, called a nucleation site. Mentos also have nucleation sites because they are not as smooth as they appear. When added to Coke, the dissolved gas pushes the liquid out of the container at a super-fast speed in the form of bubbles. The candies simply catalyze the release of gas from the Coke bottle. Therefore, the chemical reaction between Coke and Mentos, in reality, is a physical reaction. No matter how messy or sticky the experiment is, there are only two ingredients required to make this geyser. One bottle of 2-liter fizzy drink, preferably Diet Coke, and Mentos are needed in an adequate quantity to give a spectacular reaction. For a 2-liter bottle of Coke, at least five Mentos are good enough. Moreover, all Mentos must be added to the drink simultaneously, giving each of them equal time to create an effect. The pressure is lower and carbon dioxide does not nucleate. However, kids are not advised and should not do such a thing, as their stomachs are not powerful enough to absorb this physical reaction. In easier words, Coke contains carbon dioxide, which gives the drink its fizziness.

However, if there are sharp edges or fine particles in the liquid, these have surfaces that allow the CO 2 molecules to start bubble formation more easily these are called nucleation points. Archived from the original on December 19,

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This causes pressure to build in the bottle and send a spectacular jet of bubbles shooting into the air. Video advice: Why does soda explode when you shake it? Ever wonder why soda explodes when you shake it before opening the can or bottle? Watch this video on YouTube. Recipe for Disaster — Drop a few Mentos into a two-liter bottle of soda, and a geyser of foam erupts rapidly, sometimes reaching heights of 15 feet or more. Bursting a Bubble The bubbles in a bottle of soda are caused by molecules of dissolved carbon dioxide.

Why do mentos cause soda to explode

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Carbonated beverages have carbon dioxide CO 2 in them. Then repeat this activity three times, with the bottle in front of the tape-marked wall, video taping it each time. No matter how messy or sticky the experiment is, there are only two ingredients required to make this geyser. If you try this project with regular Coke, the eruption should still happen but its sugary content may make cleaning more difficult. A 2-litre 0. If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. Mentos tablets contain thousands of these nucleation points and when dropped into Coke, they allow the bubbles to form almost instantaneously. PMID The highest recorded explosion has been of Mentos and Diet Coke when the fountain touched up to 10 meters. The experiment became a subject of the television show MythBusters in The gas tries to escape and form bubbles around any irregular surface, called a nucleation site. The candies catalyze the release of gas from the beverage, which creates an eruption that pushes most of the liquid up and out of the bottle.

Love fizzing and exploding experiments? All you need are Mentos and Coke. Put the scientific method into practice with two easy-to-set-up Mentos science experiments.

When the pressure is released, the carbon dioxide is forced out of solution and makes little gas bubbles. Naperville Sun. Tilt the cup and slowly pour the soda down the inside of the cup to make as few bubbles as possible. This is likely due to network issues. Modal Gallery Close. The physical characteristics of Mentos surface roughness have the effect of drastically reducing the activation energy for carbon dioxide bubble formation so that the nucleation rate becomes exceedingly high. Eruption caused by mixing Diet Coke and Mentos. Look from the side to see if bubbles also form on the pipe cleaner. In the Diet Coke bottle the Mentos candy provides a rough surface that allows the bonds between the carbon dioxide gas and water to break more easily, helping to create carbon dioxide bubbles. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. The addition of the Mentos leads to the rapid nucleation of carbon dioxide gas bubbles, degassing the solution: [2] [20] [21] [22] [23]. While the soda is in the bottle, the gas is kept in solution by the bottle's pressurized conditions. Bubbles will form on the straw and very quickly and completely cover the pipe cleaner.