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Adding Mentos candy to Coke is legendary. Every child has heard rumors about the explosive formula that results, but how many have actually tried it? While science teachers have been doing this experiment for years, it was first popularized in September of 2005 thanks to a viral video from Steve Spangler Science. A multi-foot-tall geyser that shoots out of a soda bottle is a fun and fascinating hands-on activity that any manufacturing process scientist can do. But be careful: you may want to do this experiment outside.
Read on to learn more about the Mentos and Coke trial, and fill out the form on this page to get your free trial registration sheet.
How does the Mentos and Coke experiment work?
In this experiment, I dropped a Mentos mint into a 2-liter Coke bottle. Make sure the soda bottle is placed on a flat surface in a place where it won’t make a mess. You can then load Mentos into your paper roll or Heater tube. Once the Mentos drop into the soda, they sink to the bottom, causing the gas to expand and push the soda out of the bottle. This creates an explosive geyser effect.
What does the Mentos and Coke experience teach us?
Although you can’t see it, dissolved carbon dioxide is the invisible substance that makes soda bubbly and effervescent. As long as the soda remains in the bottle, the gas is held in place during pressure conditions. When you shake a bottle of soda, some of this gas is released and the bubbles stick to nucleation sites or small blemishes inside the container. If you open a bottle that has been shaken, the bubbles will rise quickly and push the liquid up and out of the bottle.
Besides shaking the soda, another way to help the carbon dioxide escape is to drop an object into the bottle. Mentos are the perfect stuff, as each candy has many little pits on its surface that act as nucleation sites. Once the Mentos are dropped into the soda, the bubbles stick to those locations and quickly rise to the surface. The weight of the Mentos pushes them to the bottom of the bottle. Then, the gas released by Mentos forces the soda out of the bottle in a powerful geyser.
Is there a Mentos and Cola video?
This video shows how to make a Mentos and Coca-Cola experiment using a few simple ingredients and supplies.
the required materials
To do the Mentos and Coke experiment, you will need:
- A roll or pack of mint-flavored Mentos
- 2 liter Coca-Cola bottle (also known as Coca-Cola)
- A sheet of paper to roll into a tube or Ready heater tube
- Tape
our Free registration sheet Also useful – fill out the form on this page to get it.
Steps to try Mentos and Cola
1. Make a paper tube by taking a piece of paper and wrapping it around a Mentos roll, then taping it in place. Pull the mentos out. Alternatively, you can use a pre-made heater tube available from Amazon or other retailers.
2. If using a heater tube, load Mentos. If you are using a homemade paper roll, drop the mentos into the roll, closing the bottom with your finger.
3. Place a 2-liter Coke bottle on a flat surface, remove the cap, and drop the Mentos into the open Coke bottle.
4. Run!
Get your free Mentos and Coke Trial Worksheet!
Fill out the form on this page to get your worksheet. The worksheet asks children to guess the correct order of steps in the experiment. Next, children must predict what they think will happen. They can use the spaces provided to draw what happens before and after adding Mentos. Were their expectations met?
Additional reflection questions
- What happened when we added Mentos to Coke?
- What difference do you think the temperature of the cola makes?
- What do you think would happen if we used different flavoured Mentos, such as fruit?
- In your opinion, what would happen if we used a different soft drink other than Cola?
- What do you think will happen if you use Diet Coke?
Can the Mentos and Coke experiment be used in a science fair?
Yes! If you want to do a Mentos and Coke experiment for a science fair, we recommend switching up some variables. For example: Does the temperature of the cola matter? Does soda brand matter? Will generic soda produce the same results as brand soda? What happens if I use fruit-flavored Mentos? What happens if you use Diet Coke instead of regular Coke? Form a hypothesis about how changing the variables would affect the experiment. good luck!
Looking for more experiment ideas? Check out our big list of experiment ideas here.
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