One of the most popular experiments of modern times is the Diet Coke and Mentos Geyser. This experiment is loads of fun and sure to amaze your friends and family.
What you’ll need:
• Large bottle of Diet Coke
• About half a pack of Mentos
• Geyser tube (optional but makes things much easier)
Instructions:
• Make sure you are doing this experiment in a place where you won’t get in trouble for getting Diet Coke everywhere. Outside on some grass is perfect; please don’t try this one in your family lounge!!
• Stand the Diet Coke upright and unscrew the lid. Put some sort of funnel or tube on top of it so you can drop the Mentos in at the same time (about half the pack is a good amount).
• Time for the fun part – drop the Mentos into the Diet Coke and run like mad! If you’ve done it properly a huge geyser of Diet Coke should come flying out of the bottle, it’s a very impressive sight. The record is about 9 metres high!
What’s happening?
Although there are a few different theories about how this experiment works, the most favoured reason is because of the combination of carbon dioxide in the Diet Coke and the little dimples found on Mentos candy pieces, which dramatically increases the surface area and allows a huge amount of bubbles to form.
Source: www.sciencekids.co.nz.
