Mentos Lab: Coke vs. Diet Coke
Ms. Craig’s 6th grade science students conducted a science investigation exploring the reaction between Mentos and Diet Coke. Students observed how dropping Mentos candies into a bottle of Coke and Diet Coke causes a fountain of foam. The students were surprised to learn that this reaction is not a chemical change, but a physical process known as nucleation. The surface of each Mentos candy is covered with tiny pores that provide many nucleation sites, places where carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas dissolves in the soda rapidly forming bubbles (www.eepybird.com). When the Mentos are dropped in, CO₂ molecules gather at these sites and form bubbles that grow and rise to the surface. As countless bubbles rush upward at once, they push liquid out of the bottle, creating the geyser-like eruption. Science classes were held at the outdoor learning center. The students enjoyed the beautiful weather as they documented their observations and analyzed the data. It was a fun day of learning!
