An experiment conducted by Elizabeth Snider

For EDE4304

October 9, 2006

Diet Coke and MentosDiet Coke and Mentos

A chemical reaction occurs when you add A chemical reaction occurs when you add Mentos candies to Diet Soda. Today we will Mentos candies to Diet Soda. Today we will investigate the type of reaction achieved based investigate the type of reaction achieved based on the flavor of the soda combined with a on the flavor of the soda combined with a specific flavor of Mentos candies.specific flavor of Mentos candies.

Diet Coke and MentosDiet Coke and Mentos

What is the effect that the type What is the effect that the type of soda has on the height of of soda has on the height of the fountain when combined the fountain when combined with Mentos candies?with Mentos candies?

The HypothesisThe Hypothesis

The chemical compound of Diet Cola when The chemical compound of Diet Cola when infused with the ingredients of Mentos infused with the ingredients of Mentos regular candies will result in a large fountain regular candies will result in a large fountain style eruption. style eruption.

Specific ingredients within the Diet Cola and Specific ingredients within the Diet Cola and the ingredients within a regular Mentos the ingredients within a regular Mentos candy will have the most significant reaction.candy will have the most significant reaction.

Diet Coke and MentosDiet Coke and Mentos

The VariablesThe Variables– Soda: 2 Liters in plastic bottlesSoda: 2 Liters in plastic bottles– Mentos: 2 candies per 2 liter of sodaMentos: 2 candies per 2 liter of soda

The combination is the Manipulated Variable.The combination is the Manipulated Variable.– The fountain height: in centimetersThe fountain height: in centimeters

This is the Responding Variable.This is the Responding Variable.

The EnvironmentThe Environment

Test Site: Outdoors, on tableTest Site: Outdoors, on table

The Setting: Mid-day, Average lightThe Setting: Mid-day, Average light

The conditions: Clear, no windThe conditions: Clear, no wind

The temperature: 86° FahrenheitThe temperature: 86° Fahrenheit

Time of Day: 6:07 PM to 6:42 PMTime of Day: 6:07 PM to 6:42 PM

The ExperimentThe ExperimentFeaturing: the Audience

Click on picture to view short video clip.

Tallying the results…

Manipulated Variables                     AVG

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  

Regular Diet Cola &Regular

Mentos 910 490 910 910 910 910 910 910 910 910 910

Caffeine free Diet Cola &Regular

Mentos 455 465 450 460 600 470 310 500 430 465 461

Regular (NonDiet) Cola &Regular

Mentos 315 310 305 380 270 310 300 280 310 315 310

Flavored Diet Cola (Dr. Pepper) &Regular

Mentos 680 680 670 700 690 675 660 680 690 670 680

Diet (non-cola) soda (Sprite) &Regular

Mentos 260 300 315 310 305 320 310 300 380 300 310

Regular Diet Cola (Flat) &Regular

Mentos 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Regular Diet Cola &Sugar Free

Mentos 45 50 35 48 40 49 35 50 45 50 45

Regular Diet Cola &Flavored

Mentos 700 710 730 400 770 750 715 710 785 775 705

Lemon Lime Soda (non-diet, non-cola) &

Regular Mentos 11 20 8 15 7 5 10 15 6 8 11

Charting the Results

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Average Height

Diet Cola w/ RegularMentos

Caffeine Free Diet Colaw/ regular Mentos

Regular (Non-diet) colaw/ reg. Mentos

Flavored Diet Cola w/reg. Mentos

Diet (non-cola) soda w/reg. Mentos

Flat diet cola w/ reg.Mentos

Diet Cola w/ sugar freeMentos

Diet Cola w/ flavoredMentos

Non-diet, non-colasoda w/ reg. Mentos

The ConclusionThe Conclusion

The chemical compound of Diet Cola when The chemical compound of Diet Cola when infused with the ingredients of Mentos regular infused with the ingredients of Mentos regular candies candies diddid result in a large fountain style result in a large fountain style eruption. eruption. It had the largest reaction.It had the largest reaction.

Specific ingredients within the Diet Cola and the Specific ingredients within the Diet Cola and the ingredients within a regular Mentos candy ingredients within a regular Mentos candy diddid have the most significant reaction. have the most significant reaction. Reactions occurred from the other Reactions occurred from the other combinations but they were less combinations but they were less significant.significant.

Fortifying the LessonFortifying the Lesson

Let’s see what can happen in a more Let’s see what can happen in a more controlled, organized form of this test…controlled, organized form of this test…

The Fountains

What I learned…What I learned…

1. Factors for biggest reaction:1. Factors for biggest reaction:– Artificial sweetener from soda Artificial sweetener from soda – Carbonation of sodaCarbonation of soda– Sugar from regular candySugar from regular candy

2. This experiment is very messy and should 2. This experiment is very messy and should not be conducted in a classroom!not be conducted in a classroom!

The ProofThe Proof

Set-up ConditionsSet-up Conditions

September 10September 10 Watched “Myth Busters” television program where Watched “Myth Busters” television program where

they tested the myth of Mentos effect on Diet they tested the myth of Mentos effect on Diet Coke.Coke.

Decided to test this experiment myself.Decided to test this experiment myself. Began internet search on the subject.Began internet search on the subject.

September 12September 12 Officially declared topic for science experiment.Officially declared topic for science experiment.

Set-up ConditionsSet-up Conditions

October 1 – Purchased materialsOctober 1 – Purchased materials91 2-liter sodas: 91 2-liter sodas: 41Regular Diet Colas41Regular Diet Colas

10 Caffeine free diet cola10 Caffeine free diet cola10 Regular (non-diet) cola10 Regular (non-diet) cola10 Flavored Diet Cola (Dr. Pepper)10 Flavored Diet Cola (Dr. Pepper)10 Regular, Non-cola (Sprite)10 Regular, Non-cola (Sprite)10 Diet Non-cola (Diet Sprite)10 Diet Non-cola (Diet Sprite)

14 Packs of Mentos Candies:14 Packs of Mentos Candies:1 Pack assorted fruit flavored Mentos1 Pack assorted fruit flavored Mentos

1 Pack sugar-free, regular Mentos1 Pack sugar-free, regular Mentos12 Packs regular Mentos12 Packs regular Mentos

Set-up ConditionsSet-up Conditions

October 2October 2 Conducted trial run of experiment with two Conducted trial run of experiment with two

2-liter diet sodas.2-liter diet sodas.– 11stst test: 2 liter diet soda + 10 regular Mentos = test: 2 liter diet soda + 10 regular Mentos =

huge eruption ejecting multiple candies.huge eruption ejecting multiple candies.– 22ndnd test: 2 liter diet soda + 2 regular Mentos test: 2 liter diet soda + 2 regular Mentos

Made conclusion to conduct experiment with Made conclusion to conduct experiment with no more than two candies per bottle of soda.no more than two candies per bottle of soda.

Set-up ConditionsSet-up Conditions

October 3October 3Researched possible outcomes and confirmed Researched possible outcomes and confirmed manipulating variables.manipulating variables.

October 4October 4Designed power point (without results and charts)Designed power point (without results and charts)

October 5October 5Conducted experiment. Conducted experiment. Cleaned up Cleaned up huge huge mess.mess.Showered and washed clothesShowered and washed clothes

Set-up ConditionsSet-up Conditions

October 6October 6Compiled resultsCompiled resultsCreated chart Created chart Created graphCreated graph

October 7October 7Completed power pointCompleted power point

October 8October 8Watched and edited presentation.Watched and edited presentation.