ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU
1
Mentos and Soda Experiment 1: Determining The Most Explosive Soda
2
Background:
3
When Diet Coke comes into contact Mentos Candy a fast and fizzy reaction happens. But why do mentos make soda "explode"? The answer is a physical reaction, not a chemical reaction. A carbonated drink, such as Diet Coke, has CO2 molecules dissolved into solution. When a gas is dissolved into solution, no bubbles are visible. The CO2 gas molecules are trapped by the liquid molecules. Sometimes some of these CO2 molecules manage to break free from the liquid molecules and collect together along the bottom or side of the container. Big bubbles can only form at a seeding point - a solid surface that acts as a congregating point for the air molecules. That's why you don't see bubbles coming from the middle of your drink.

Mentos have 2 useful properties that make them great for releasing CO2 from solution.

First, their candy shell makes for a great seeding point. Not only is the candy shell something solid to grab onto, but it is rough, offering lots of nooks and crannies for bubble to form and release.

Second, their candy shell has low surface energy. This means that the liquid is readily attracted to the candy shell. As the liquid attaches to the surface of the candy shell, it releases it's hold on the CO2 molecules it was holding in solution. The result is that it is even easier for CO2 to come out of solution, seed onto the candy shell, and fizz up to the surface.
4
Goal:
5
Determine which soda is most explosive when put into contact with mint Mentos
6
Test Procedure:
7
Quickly drop 1 roll of mint Mentos into a 2 Liter bottle of soda at room temperature (about 78 F)
8
Data:
9
TrialSodaInitial Mass of Soda, gInitial Mass of Mentos, gTotal Initial Mass, gFinal Mass, gMass lost in explosion, gMass BlastedPercent Mass BlastedSample MeanError SquaredNotes
10
9Coke21434021837151468142866.635557629491465.80378627743220.6918435821
11
15Coke214437.142181.147511430.14139364.97201492537310.6918435821-1 mentos
12
14Coke Zero20484020886221466142669.6289062568.7181493327620.8294781623
13
8Coke Zero20484020886321456141669.1406250.1784856894
14
26Coke Zero20424020826661416137667.3849167482861.777509124
15
30Diet A&W Root Beer20564020966381458141868.968871595330768.24908423516540.5180938439
16
22Diet A&W Root Beer20484020886651423138367.5292968750.5180938439
17
4Diet Coke20544020946281466142669.425511197663168.86682678361950.3121282745
18
17Diet Coke20514020916501441140168.30814236957580.3121282745
19
29Diet Coke Caffeine Free20474020876961391135165.999022960429965.47398887447840.2756607914
20
21Diet Coke Caffeine Free20574020977211376133664.9489547885270.2756607914
21
18Diet Dr. Pepper20404020806701410137067.15686274509866.79676552730510.1296700063
22
2Diet Dr. Pepper20294020696811388134866.43666830951210.1296700063
23
6Diet Pepsi20554020956151480144070.072992700729969.02294714676181.102595665
24
13Diet Pepsi205534.282089.286451444.28141068.61313868613140.1679429744-2 mentos
25
25Diet Pepsi20594020996511448140868.3827100534240.4099035357
26
19Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free20604021006481452141268.543689320388468.0818301182650.2133139226
27
27Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free20634021036681435139567.61997091614150.2133139226
28
20Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry20664021066211485144569.941916747337969.92735372250610.0002120816922
29
28Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry20644021046211483144369.91279069767440.0002120816922
30
1Mountain Dew21484021889161272123257.355679702048456.56868166416020.6193659116
31
11Mountain Dew21624022029561246120655.7816836262720.6193659116
32
32Pepsi21374021777231454141466.167524567150265.6364554920060.2820343626
33
24Pepsi21354021757451430139065.10538641686180.2820343626
34
31Pepsi Zero Max20614021016051496145670.645317806889970.18660448167620.2104179147
35
23Pepsi Zero Max20584020986231475143569.72789115646260.2104179147
36
5Sam's Diet Cola20534020937101383134365.416463711641565.01105561434070.1643557254
37
16Sam's Diet Cola20544020947271367132764.60564751703990.1643557254
38
10Sprite21434021837751408136863.835744283714463.15912272515170.4578167335
39
7Sprite21434021838041379133962.48250116658890.4578167335
40
12Sprite Zero20544020947111383134365.384615384615464.95508141493540.1844994311
41
3Sprite Zero20554020957291366132664.52554744525550.1844994311
42
Analysis:
43
SodaAverage Percent Mass Blasted
44
Pepsi Zero Max70.19
45
Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry69.93
46
Diet Pepsi69.02
47
Diet Coke68.87
48
Coke Zero68.72
49
Diet Coke Caffeine Free65.47
50
Diet A&W Root Beer68.25
51
Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free68.08
52
Diet Dr. Pepper66.80
53
Coke65.80
54
Pepsi65.64
55
Sprite Zero64.96
56
Sam's Diet Cola65.01
57
Sprite63.16
58
Mountain Dew56.57
59
SodaAvg Percent Mass Blasted Ignoring Runs with Lost Mentos
60
Pepsi Zero Max70.19
61
Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry69.93
62
Diet Pepsi69.23
63
Diet Coke68.87
64
Coke Zero68.72
65
Diet A&W Root Beer68.25
66
Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free68.08
67
Diet Dr. Pepper66.80
68
Coke66.64
69
Pepsi65.64
70
Diet Coke Caffeine Free65.47
71
Sam's Diet Cola65.01
72
Sprite Zero64.96
73
Sprite63.16
74
Mountain Dew56.57
75
SodaAverage Mass Blasted
76
Pepsi Zero Max1,445.50
77
Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry1,444.00
78
Diet Pepsi1,419.33
79
Diet Coke1,413.50
80
Coke1,410.50
81
Coke Zero1,406.00
82
Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free1,403.50
83
Pepsi1,402.00
84
Diet A&W Root Beer1,400.50
85
Diet Dr. Pepper1,359.00
86
Sprite1,353.50
87
Diet Coke Caffeine Free1,343.50
88
Sam's Diet Cola1,335.00
89
Sprite Zero1,334.50
90
Mountain Dew1,219.00
91
SodaAvg Mass Blasted Ignoring Runs with Lost Mentos
92
Pepsi Zero Max1,445.50
93
Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry1,444.00
94
Coke1,428.00
95
Diet Pepsi1,424.00
96
Diet Coke1,413.50
97
Coke Zero1,406.00
98
Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free1,403.50
99
Pepsi1,402.00
100
Diet A&W Root Beer1,400.50