Resources: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14114-science-of-mentosdiet-coke-explosions-explained.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vk4_2xboOE
Many of us know about the explosions that Mentos and diet Coke make. However, how many of us know just exactly why it happens? This explosion can shoot up to 7 meters when the Mentos is whole, but when it's crushed and dropped into it, it can only go about 30 centimeters. What a huge difference! A good portion of people probably assume it's how the gum candy reacts with the caffeine. You'd be wrong. The caffeine shows no difference in the explosion and the reaction. Crossing caffeine out of play. So what exactly is it?
The ideas of what causes the chemical reactions was tested by Mythbusters and then others got interested. After testing their theories of the reactants, we were able to narrow out things that didn't work. Though there is still some mystery to this explosion we have come to the conclusion that chemicals responsible for the reaction are gum arabic and gelatine in the sweets, potassium benzoate and aspartame in the Coke. Also, the tension of both the liquid coca-cola and the surface tension on the mentos cause bubbles. The tension on the mentos disrupts polar attractions in the water molecules. So, when dropped fast it sinks to the bottom and other bubbles push another up causing the rocket of soda.
Middle School teachers everywhere are taking their kids on the field and giving them the amusement of learning with some fun added. My friend and I had done this experiment once, and it truly was a load of fun and a supplier of laughter, all at the same time of learning. This explosion is still with some mystery of how exactly everything works. So, try it with other variables to test the theories that are left and see if they can be changed or altered. Have fun with it(:
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