We
will be the first to tell you that this is not related to allergies - and we are
really stretching it when we relate it to food! Instead, we will
call this "just plain fun!"
How to Make Diet Coke Explode with Mentos
Your ingredients? One two liter of diet coke and 13 mint flavored Mentos.
First and foremost, go outside to do this experiment! Open the diet coke and place it on the ground.
Now you need to make a tube for your Mentos to slide through. This can
be as simple as rolling a piece of paper into a tube shape - the Mentos should
fit inside this tube and be able to slide out easily. You also need a
thin, square piece of firm paper, plastic or cardboard. A simple playing
card will do.
Are you ready for the fun? Put your Mentos into the tube, holding your
square cardboard on the bottom so they don't slide out. Put the tube over
the open bottle of diet coke. Position it exactly over the opening of the
bottle. Be ready to run! Now, slide the cardboard away so the Mentos
immediately fall into the bottle of Diet Coke. Run!!!
Special Winter Notice! If it is cold
outside, fill your bathtub with hot water. Let your Diet Coke bottles
float in the water for about ten minutes. Then take your bottles out to
explode. Cold diet coke gives off a smaller fountain, while warmed diet
coke sends it shooting!
Why Does the Diet Coke "Explode?"
Basically,
you are witnessing the Surface Effect. Carbon Dioxide forms bubbles.
Diet Coke has more carbon dioxide than other regular sodas. The surface of
the "mento" is jagged and filled with nooks and crannies. The Carbon
Dioxide finds all of these holes and fills them with bubbles. Since the
Mentos are heavy, they drop to the bottom of the bottle, forming bubbles all the
way down. This is what causes the fast and furious explosion out of the
top of the Diet Coke bottle.
Basically,
you are witnessing the Surface Effect. Carbon Dioxide forms bubbles.
Diet Coke has more carbon dioxide than other regular sodas. The surface of
the "mento" is jagged and filled with nooks and crannies. The Carbon
Dioxide finds all of these holes and fills them with bubbles. Since the
Mentos are heavy, they drop to the bottom of the bottle, forming bubbles all the
way down. This is what causes the fast and furious explosion out of the
top of the Diet Coke bottle. 
