Create a giant geyser of soda using a chemical reaction between Mentos and Diet Coke. Learn about nucleation and how gas escapes a liquid rapidly to create a fountain!

Materials

• Diet Coke bottles (2 liters, 1 bottle)
• Mentos mints (1 roll of 7-10 mints)
• Paper tube or rolled cardstock (2 inches wide, 6 inches long)
• Tape (clear or masking, 1 foot)
• Paper plate (10-inch, 1 plate)

Safety

• Adult supervision required.
• This experiment MUST be done outdoors as it creates a large, sticky mess.
• Avoid getting soda in your eyes.

Steps

1. Find a flat, open outdoor area like a driveway or sidewalk.
2. Place the 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke firmly on the center of the paper plate to keep it steady.
3. Create a 'Mentos launcher' by rolling a piece of cardstock into a tube or using a pre-made paper tube that is slightly wider than the mouth of the soda bottle.
4. Tape the tube to the top of the bottle, ensuring it is centered and can hold the mints without them falling in immediately.
5. Carefully load 7 to 10 Mentos mints into the tube, stacking them one on top of the other.
6. Quickly pull the tube away or trigger the mints to fall into the soda all at once.
7. Step back immediately to avoid the soda spray!
8. Watch as the carbon dioxide gas rapidly escapes the soda, pushing a giant fountain of foam into the air.