======Mentos and Diet Coke======


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**Alternative titles:** Erupting Diet Coke with Mentos
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Prepare a Mentos cartridge by rolling an index card into a tube slightly larger than the candies and taping it closed.  
  - Choose an outdoor location at least two meters away from buildings and overhead obstructions.  
  - Place a two-liter Diet Coke bottle upright and stable.  
  - Remove the cap and cover the opening with a flat index card.  
  - Load four whole Mentos into the cartridge.  
  - Place the cartridge above the bottle, aligning it with the opening.  
  - Put on eye protection and quickly pull out the flat card so the Mentos drop into the bottle. Step back immediately.  
  - Observe the eruption’s speed, height, and duration.  
  - For comparison, crush four Mentos into small pieces and load them into a new cartridge.  
  - Repeat the procedure with a fresh bottle of Diet Coke, this time releasing the crushed Mentos.  
  - Compare the eruptions between whole and crushed Mentos in terms of height and how much liquid remains.



====Links==== 
Coke and Mentos Experiment - Emily's Science Lab - Emily Calandrelli: 
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Cool Science Experiment - Original Mentos Diet Coke Geyser - Sick Science!: 
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📄 Erupting Diet Coke® with Mentos® - Science Buddies: [[https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/diet-coke-mentos]]\\


====Variations====
  * Test different types of carbonated beverages (regular soda, seltzer, or flavored sparkling water).  
  * Try different candies with rough or smooth surfaces to compare effects.  
  * Repeat the experiment with warm versus cold soda to see how temperature changes the eruption.  
  * Use a measuring tape on a nearby wall to record eruption heights more precisely.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Safety goggles are required to protect eyes from splashing soda.  
  * Perform outdoors to avoid mess and potential damage to property.  
  * Stand back immediately after dropping in the Mentos to avoid contact with the eruption.  
  * Use caution when cutting or crushing Mentos—adult supervision is recommended.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does this reaction happen so quickly? (The rough surface of Mentos breaks bonds between dissolved carbon dioxide and water, releasing gas rapidly.)  
  * Which gives a bigger eruption, whole or crushed Mentos? (Whole Mentos sink faster, releasing gas more quickly and producing a larger eruption.)  
  * How does temperature affect the eruption? (Warmer soda holds less dissolved gas, so eruptions may be larger than with cold soda.)  
  * What type of soda produces the tallest eruption? (Diet sodas often produce higher geysers because they contain fewer sugars, reducing stickiness and allowing bubbles to rise more freely.)