The Science The Science Behind the Fun Behind the Fun of Mentos and of Mentos and

Diet Coke.Diet Coke.

77thth Grade Science Grade Science

Solutions UnitSolutions Unit

Boom!!!Boom!!!

So, what is more fun than making So, what is more fun than making things explode?!?things explode?!?

For years, school teachers have For years, school teachers have been using ‘mint’ candies and been using ‘mint’ candies and carbonized soda to stimulate their carbonized soda to stimulate their students.students.

How did it become so How did it become so popular?popular?

In the late 90’s, In the late 90’s, Lee Lee Marek, a retired Marek, a retired Chicago high-school Chicago high-school chemistry teacher, chemistry teacher, who brought some who brought some kid scientists to New kid scientists to New York in the late-'90s York in the late-'90s to perform the to perform the experiment on experiment on Late Late Night with David Night with David LettermanLetterman using using LifeSavers.LifeSavers.

Then,Then,

Steve Spangler Steve Spangler performed the experiment with Mentos on performed the experiment with Mentos on a Denver newscast in 2005, drenching one of the a Denver newscast in 2005, drenching one of the anchors. That night he put the video clip of the anchors. That night he put the video clip of the appearance on his weblog. "The blog entry was `News appearance on his weblog. "The blog entry was `News Anchor Gets Soaked.' We linked it to the streaming Anchor Gets Soaked.' We linked it to the streaming video, and that piece we believe is what caused the video, and that piece we believe is what caused the Mentos thing to go viral. Within weeks (the clip) was on Mentos thing to go viral. Within weeks (the clip) was on VH1." VH1."

Eight months later, YouTube, an Internet site that lets Eight months later, YouTube, an Internet site that lets people post and view video clips, had more than 800 people post and view video clips, had more than 800 Mentos videos. "YouTube was right there at the right Mentos videos. "YouTube was right there at the right time," says Spangler. "Kids could duplicate things they time," says Spangler. "Kids could duplicate things they thought were funny."thought were funny."

Why do we care?Why do we care?

There are lots of different solutions There are lots of different solutions here!!!here!!!

The solvent in this reaction with Mentos The solvent in this reaction with Mentos is Diet Coke.is Diet Coke.

Diet Coke itself is a solution.Diet Coke itself is a solution. How so?How so? One of the main solutions found in Diet One of the main solutions found in Diet

Coke that we need to focus on is a liquid-Coke that we need to focus on is a liquid-gas type of solution. gas type of solution.

What could it be?What could it be?

The Carbon Dioxide The Carbon Dioxide CompoundCompound

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) injected into Water Carbon Dioxide (CO2) injected into Water is the reason why beverages have their is the reason why beverages have their ““fizzfizz.” Their .” Their CarbonationCarbonation..

This high pressured technique causes the This high pressured technique causes the molecules inside of the container to be molecules inside of the container to be very packed together!very packed together!

As we learned earlier, CO2 is one of the As we learned earlier, CO2 is one of the compounds required to create Carbonic compounds required to create Carbonic Acid (H2CO3), which is also found naturally Acid (H2CO3), which is also found naturally in our rainwater. (Remember our Acid Rain in our rainwater. (Remember our Acid Rain discussion!)discussion!)

Let’s see it…Let’s see it…

Let’s tease you a little…Let’s tease you a little…

How does it do that?How does it do that?

Really, this can be found under Really, this can be found under debate throughout the scientific debate throughout the scientific community.community.

Like most things, a search on the Like most things, a search on the internet will find more than one internet will find more than one theory.theory.

We will discuss two.We will discuss two. Then, …………more reactions!!Then, …………more reactions!!

Nucleation SitesNucleation Sites

The following link gives us one The following link gives us one explanation for what goes on at explanation for what goes on at the surface of the Mentos candy the surface of the Mentos candy shell.shell.

When we review this document When we review this document visualize a golf ball covered in visualize a golf ball covered in divots.divots.

Carbonic Acid in SolutionCarbonic Acid in Solution

As previously mentioned, there is high As previously mentioned, there is high pressure created inside of the pop pressure created inside of the pop bottle.bottle.

This pressure can further create more This pressure can further create more Carbonic Acid.Carbonic Acid.

This theory states that once that pressuThis theory states that once that pressure is released, that newly formed Carbore is released, that newly formed Carbonic Acid converts back to CO2 and H2O.nic Acid converts back to CO2 and H2O.

What that means is more gas! What that means is more gas! More gas = More Fun. (No I’m not More gas = More Fun. (No I’m not

talking about Magic Beans.)talking about Magic Beans.)

Anti-Occam’s RazorAnti-Occam’s Razor

Can the solution really be Can the solution really be more complex that just more complex that just

two different, but two different, but possibly connected possibly connected

theories?theories?

Showtime!!!Showtime!!!