How to make a high fountain using Diet Coke and Mentos

Warm diet cola is an important part of making a geyser.

Aspiring scientists and young fans of explosions may enjoy dropping pieces of Mentos candy into a container of Diet Coke. The reaction between the sharp edges of the candy and the carbon dioxide gas in the soda creates an eruption of foam, often reacting so strongly that a geyser can erupt into the air. There are a few tricks to creating a fountain of bubbles when mixing Mentos and Diet Coke.

Things You'll Need

• Mentos candy
• 2 or 3 liters of Diet Coke

Instructions

1. Get the Diet Coke to reach room temperature by setting it outside to be warmed by the sun. Warm cola will make the fountain go even higher when you perform the experiment.

2. Set the bottle in a field at least 50 feet from any building or object.

3. Put several Mentos in your hand or in a small plastic tube to drop into the cola bottle as fast as you can.

4. Quickly open the cola bottle with one hand and drop in as many Mentos as possible with the other.

5. Step back at least 15 feet. The Diet Coke and Mentos should explode within seconds.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider wearing protective gear and eye goggles during this experiment.

• Do not warm the cola in a microwave or oven, as the bottle may explode and cause serious injury.

References

• Wayne's This and That: Mentos and Coke Fountain
• Candy Addict: Mentos Plus Soda Equals EXPLOSION