Diet Coke and Mentos

1. Diet Coke and Mentos An experiment conducted by Elizabeth Snider For EDE4304 October 9, 2006

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

3. Diet Coke and Mentos The Question What is the effect that the type of soda has on the height of the fountain when combined with Mentos candies?

4. The Hypothesis The chemical compound of Diet Cola when infused with the ingredients of Mentos regular candies will result in a large fountain style eruption. Specific ingredients within the Diet Cola and the ingredients within a regular Mentos candy will have the most significant reaction.

5. Diet Coke and Mentos The Variables • Soda: 2 Liters in plastic bottles • Mentos: 2 candies per 2 liter of soda The combination is the Manipulated Variable. • The fountain height: in centimeters This is the Responding Variable.

6. The Environment Test Site: Outdoors, on table The Setting: Mid-day, Average light The conditions: Clear, no wind The temperature: 86° Fahrenheit Time of Day: 6:07 PM to 6:42 PM

7. The Experiment Featuring: the Audience Click on picture to view short video clip.

8. Tallying the results…

9. Charting the Results

10. The Conclusion The chemical compound of Diet Cola when infused with the ingredients of Mentos regular candies did result in a large fountain style eruption. It had the largest reaction. Specific ingredients within the Diet Cola and the ingredients within a regular Mentos candy did have the most significant reaction. Reactions occurred from the other combinations but they were less significant.

11. Fortifying the Lesson Let’s see what can happen in a more controlled, organized form of this test… The Fountains

12. What I learned… 1. Factors for biggest reaction: • Artificial sweetener from soda • Carbonation of soda • Sugar from regular candy 2. This experiment is very messy and should not be conducted in a classroom!

13. The Proof

14. How it came to be...

15. Set-up Conditions September 10 • Watched “Myth Busters” television program where they tested the myth of Mentos effect on Diet Coke. • Decided to test this experiment myself. • Began internet search on the subject. September 12 • Officially declared topic for science experiment.

16. Set-up Conditions October 1 – Purchased materials 91 2-liter sodas: 41Regular Diet Colas 10 Caffeine free diet cola 10 Regular (non-diet) cola 10 Flavored Diet Cola (Dr. Pepper) 10 Regular, Non-cola (Sprite) 10 Diet Non-cola (Diet Sprite) 14 Packs of Mentos Candies: 1 Pack assorted fruit flavored Mentos 1 Pack sugar-free, regular Mentos 12 Packs regular Mentos

17. Set-up Conditions October 2 • Conducted trial run of experiment with two 2-liter diet sodas. • 1st test: 2 liter diet soda + 10 regular Mentos = huge eruption ejecting multiple candies. • 2nd test: 2 liter diet soda + 2 regular Mentos • Made conclusion to conduct experiment with no more than two candies per bottle of soda.

18. Set-up Conditions October 3 Researched possible outcomes and confirmed manipulating variables. October 4 Designed power point (without results and charts) October 5 Conducted experiment. Cleaned up huge mess. Showered and washed clothes

19. Set-up Conditions October 6 Compiled results Created chart Created graph October 7 Completed power point October 8 Watched and edited presentation.

20. The End