How to Make Exploding Mentos for a Science Project

While throwing couple Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke may make a great reaction, it makes a lousy science project. For a science project, it is necessary to isolate a single variable, then use observation and data collection to support or disprove your hypothesis. For this science project the variable being tested is if the temperature of the Diet Coke will change the Mentos and Diet Coke reaction.

Things You'll Need

• 2-liter bottles of Diet Coke (or other carbonated beverage), 3
• Package of mint-flavored Mentos
• Thermometer
• Blue painters tape
• Measuring tape
• Paper
• Pencil
• Safety goggles

Instructions

1. Place one bottle of Diet Coke in the refrigerator, let one warm up to room temperature, and if possible place one bottle outside on a hot day and let it heat up.

2. Find an outdoor space to perform the experiment. Look for an area that has a flat surface (or use a table) and is near a tall building. Place blue painters tape on the building every 12 inches, to measure the height of the eruption.

3. Open the bottle of Diet Coke kept in the refrigerator. Carefully insert the thermometer into the pop and record the temperature. Replace the lid on the pop bottle to keep the CO2 from escaping. Repeat with the other two bottles of pop.

4. Take all three bottles of pop outside and place them on a flat surface in front of the building with the measurement marks.

5. Put on safety goggles to protect eyes from spraying pop.

6. Open the bottle of pop that was kept in the refrigerator. Carefully drop four Mentos at the same time into the bottle. Record the height of the eruption.

7. Repeat step 6 with the bottle of pop that was kept at room temperature.

8. Repeat step 6 with the bottle of pop that was kept outside.

9. Using the data that has been collected, determine if the temperature of the Diet Coke makes a difference in the height of the eruption.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the height of the eruption by changing the number of Mentos dropped into the Diet Coke at one time.

• Try using different types of Mentos or different candies for a different reaction.

• Try using different types of pop to determine if Diet Coke really is the best pop to use.

• Wear safety goggles to prevent any pop from getting into your eyes.

• This experiment is very messy, so it is best to perform it outside. If being performed inside, get special permission ahead of time and have cleaning supplies available to clean up.

References

• Diet Coke and Mentos Super Fountains
• Steve Spangler Mentos Experiments

Resources

• EepyBird Experiment # 137
• Science of Mentos Explostion Explained
• Wayne Schmide's Mentos and Diet Coke Guiser Page