How to Make Mints Dissolve
Mints come in handy in a variety of situations. They provide a quick, glucose pick-me-up when the day's activities drain our energy. They give us a first-line defense against sour, offensive breath. Rarely, however, do we consider how mints work the magic that they do. Liquids, such as saliva, react with mints, and depending on their composition, dissolve them quickly or slowly. As mints dissolve, they release their flavorful oils and energizing sugars. If you are looking for a quick science project or just want to satisfy your curiosity, you can actually mimic this process by dissolving a mint yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 small striped, round peppermint candies (or another type of mint of your choosing)
- 1 large, clear plastic cup
- Water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
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Making the Mints Dissolve
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1
Unwrap the mints.
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2
Fill the cup halfway with water.
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3
Add the lemon juice to the water. This will somewhat mimic the slight acidity of saliva.
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4
Allow the mint to settle in the solution.
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5
Examine the mint after 15 minutes to observe the dissolution.
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6
Continue observing the mint in 15-minute intervals until the entire mint has been dispersed throughout the solution.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you wish to expand on this simple experiment, you can dissolve mints in other solutions, such as alcohol, soda or vinegar to see if these substances have different effects in dissolving the mint.
