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http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/consumer/faq/mentos.shtml | title = Why do Mentos mints foam when you drop them into soda pop? |work=General Chemistry Online |publisher = Frostburg State University | accessdate = 2007-04-24 }}</ref> Water molecules strongly attract each other, linking together to form a tight connection around each bubble of [[carbon dioxide]] gas in the soda. To form a new bubble, water molecules must push away from one another. It takes extra energy to break this [[surface tension]]. So, in other words, water resists the expansion of bubbles in the soda.
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/consumer/faq/mentos.shtml | title = Why do Mentos mints foam when you drop them into soda pop? |work=General Chemistry Online |publisher = Frostburg State University | accessdate = 2007-04-24 }}</ref> Water molecules strongly attract each other, linking together to form a tight connection around each bubble of [[carbon dioxide]] gas in the soda. To form a new bubble, water molecules must push away from one another. It takes extra energy to break this [[surface tension]]. So, in other words, water resists the expansion of bubbles in the soda.


When Mentos are dropped into soda, the [[gellan gum]] and [[gum arabic]] of the candy dissolves and breaks the surface tension. This disturbs the water connection, so that it takes less work to expand and form new bubbles. Each Mentos candy has thousands of tiny pores all over its surface. These tiny pores function as [[nucleation]] sites for [[carbon dioxide]] bubbles to form. As soon as the Mentos enter the [[soda]], bubbles form all over their surface. They quickly sink to the bottom, causing carbon dioxide to be released by the carbonated liquid with which they come into contact along the way.
i took the bigest poop ever, the [[gellan gum]] and [[gum arabic]] of the candy dissolves and breaks the surface tension. This disturbs the water connection, so that it takes less work to expand and form new bubbles. Each Mentos candy has thousands of tiny pores all over its surface. These tiny pores function as [[nucleation]] sites for [[carbon dioxide]] bubbles to form. As soon as the Mentos enter the [[soda]], bubbles form all over their surface. They quickly sink to the bottom, causing carbon dioxide to be released by the carbonated liquid with which they come into contact along the way.


The reaction was the subject of an [[August 9]], [[2006]] episode of ''[[MythBusters]]'', a popular television program on the [[Discovery Channel]].<ref>[http://www.tv.com/mythbusters/diet-coke-and-mentos/episode/822481/summary.html MythBusters: Diet Coke and Mentos - TV.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> They concluded that the [[caffeine]], [[potassium benzoate]], [[aspartame]], and CO<sub>2</sub> gas contained in the [[Diet Coke]] and the [[gelatin]] and [[gum arabic]] ingredients of the Mentos all contribute to the jet effect.<ref name=OHare>{{cite news | first = Kate | last = O'Hare | url = http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-mythbustersmentos,0,4325641.story | title = The 'MythBusters' Take on the Mentos/Diet Coke Craze | accessdate = 2007-01-21 }}</ref> In addition, the MythBusters theorized that the physical structure of the Mentos is the most significant cause of the eruption. When flavored Mentos with a smooth waxy coating were tested in [[carbonated water]], no reaction occurred, whereas standard Mentos added to carbonated water formed a small eruption, by their claim, affirming the nucleation-site theory. This was further supported when [[rock salt]] was used as an effective substitute for Mentos.<ref name=OHare>{{cite news | first = Kate | last = O'Hare | url = http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-mythbustersmentos,0,4325641.story | title = The 'MythBusters' Take on the Mentos/Diet Coke Craze | accessdate = 2007-01-21 }}</ref> The experiment was also repeated in an episode of ''[[Numb3rs]]''.<ref>[http://www.corigin.com/2007/08/09/math_mentos_learning_learn_from/ Math and Mentos: How E-Learning Can Learn from [[Numb3rs]] and [[YouTube]] - corigin.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The reaction was the subject of an [[August 9]], [[2006]] episode of ''[[MythBusters]]'', a popular television program on the [[Discovery Channel]].<ref>[http://www.tv.com/mythbusters/diet-coke-and-mentos/episode/822481/summary.html MythBusters: Diet Coke and Mentos - TV.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> They concluded that the [[caffeine]], [[potassium benzoate]], [[aspartame]], and CO<sub>2</sub> gas contained in the [[Diet Coke]] and the [[gelatin]] and [[gum arabic]] ingredients of the Mentos all contribute to the jet effect.<ref name=OHare>{{cite news | first = Kate | last = O'Hare | url = http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-mythbustersmentos,0,4325641.story | title = The 'MythBusters' Take on the Mentos/Diet Coke Craze | accessdate = 2007-01-21 }}</ref> In addition, the MythBusters theorized that the physical structure of the Mentos is the most significant cause of the eruption. When flavored Mentos with a smooth waxy coating were tested in [[carbonated water]], no reaction occurred, whereas standard Mentos added to carbonated water formed a small eruption, by their claim, affirming the nucleation-site theory. This was further supported when [[rock salt]] was used as an effective substitute for Mentos.<ref name=OHare>{{cite news | first = Kate | last = O'Hare | url = http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-mythbustersmentos,0,4325641.story | title = The 'MythBusters' Take on the Mentos/Diet Coke Craze | accessdate = 2007-01-21 }}</ref> The experiment was also repeated in an episode of ''[[Numb3rs]]''.<ref>[http://www.corigin.com/2007/08/09/math_mentos_learning_learn_from/ Math and Mentos: How E-Learning Can Learn from [[Numb3rs]] and [[YouTube]] - corigin.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Revision as of 18:04, 29 February 2008

A Coke and Mentos Eruption (also known as a Mentos eruption, soda geyser or just Coke and Mentos) is a reaction when certain objects are dropped into carbonated liquids. The most well-known example of this reaction (among many possibilities) is the specific combination of Mentos candy and Coke, typically achieved by dropping several candies into a bottle of the cola. This results in a jet of cola from the mouth of the bottle due to the rapid expanding of carbon dioxide bubbles on the surface of the candy. Producing the reaction has become a popular science experiment and an Internet meme, with videos of eruptions and even performance art pieces being posted on websites like Google Video and YouTube.

A Diet Coke bottle shortly after Mentos was dropped into it

History

Steve Spangler initiated the Internet phenomenon when he appeared on Denver's KUSA-TV in 2002 and 2005, both times showcasing the experiment. A video of his September 2005[1] appearance, which resulted in one of the anchors being drenched in Coke, was placed on their website and video sharing website, YouTube.[2]

The experiment was then further popularized by the website Eepybird.com, which promoted a video in which two men re-created the fountain display seen in front of the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas using a timed series of eruptions. Later Eepybird videos featured "self-activating" soda jets linked together to form a Domino Rally-style effect. In September 2007, the videos, including the "Extreme Diet Coke and Mentos Experiments" video that was viewed more than 10 million times, earned the pair the highest yearly payout of US$50000 from the video hosting service Revver.[3]

The eruption has been reproduced many times by popular sources, including the television shows Numb3rs and MythBusters and an appearance by cast member Kari Byron in FHM magazine, an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman by physics teacher Lee Marek, and others. MythBusters later created what is believed to be the highest soda jet recorded, at over 29 feet (9 meters), using a nozzle.

Explanation

There are various theories that are debated as to the exact scientific explanation of the phenomenon; many scientists claim that it is a physical reaction and not a chemical one.[4] Water molecules strongly attract each other, linking together to form a tight connection around each bubble of carbon dioxide gas in the soda. To form a new bubble, water molecules must push away from one another. It takes extra energy to break this surface tension. So, in other words, water resists the expansion of bubbles in the soda.

i took the bigest poop ever, the gellan gum and gum arabic of the candy dissolves and breaks the surface tension. This disturbs the water connection, so that it takes less work to expand and form new bubbles. Each Mentos candy has thousands of tiny pores all over its surface. These tiny pores function as nucleation sites for carbon dioxide bubbles to form. As soon as the Mentos enter the soda, bubbles form all over their surface. They quickly sink to the bottom, causing carbon dioxide to be released by the carbonated liquid with which they come into contact along the way.

The reaction was the subject of an August 9, 2006 episode of MythBusters, a popular television program on the Discovery Channel.[5] They concluded that the caffeine, potassium benzoate, aspartame, and CO2 gas contained in the Diet Coke and the gelatin and gum arabic ingredients of the Mentos all contribute to the jet effect.[6] In addition, the MythBusters theorized that the physical structure of the Mentos is the most significant cause of the eruption. When flavored Mentos with a smooth waxy coating were tested in carbonated water, no reaction occurred, whereas standard Mentos added to carbonated water formed a small eruption, by their claim, affirming the nucleation-site theory. This was further supported when rock salt was used as an effective substitute for Mentos.[6] The experiment was also repeated in an episode of Numb3rs.[7]

See also

Further reading

External links

  1. ^ Mentos + soda + video + blog = Cha-ching!. Published on February 23, 2007 by InternetRetailer. Accessed on April 17, 2007.
  2. ^ Science toy e-retailer sets off geyser of publicity. Published by InternetRetailer on March 27, 2007. Accessed on April 17, 2007.
  3. ^ Graham, Jefferson (2007-09-12). "Posters reap cash rewards at video-sharing site Revver". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-09-13. The biggest paycheck — $50,000 for 15 clips — went to two guys from Maine who inserted a Mentos mint into a bottle of Diet Coke (KO) and watched it explode.
  4. ^ Senese, Fred. "Why do Mentos mints foam when you drop them into soda pop?". General Chemistry Online. Frostburg State University. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  5. ^ MythBusters: Diet Coke and Mentos - TV.com
  6. ^ a b O'Hare, Kate. "The 'MythBusters' Take on the Mentos/Diet Coke Craze". Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  7. ^ Math and Mentos: How E-Learning Can Learn from Numb3rs and YouTube - corigin.com
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