Diet Coke : The Mentos Effect

Diet Coke burst out to height of about 2.5m when 5 plain mentos were dropped into it.

Of course, it’s just amazing to see it erupt and reach great heights and it’s even more fun to try it yourself (not in the kitchen okay-you definitely don’t want your Mum to ask you to clean up the mess; the backyard will suffice). Here’s how you do it. Get a 2 litre bottle of Coke or Pepsi. Drop in four or five plain (mint-flavoured) Mentos and voila ! you’ll see the fountain oozing up.

What’s the Science behind this phenomenon ?

Some people initially proclaimed this to be a simple acid-base neutralization reaction as Coke is acidic due to the presence of phosphoric acid of pH around 2.8. But it is found that the pH of Coke before and after dropping Mentos to be the same. So there’s no chance of a neutralization reaction.

Experiments in a 2006 edition of the Discovery Channel program Mythbusters suggested the chemicals responsible for the reaction are gum arabic and gelatine in the sweets, and caffeine, potassium benzoate and aspartame in the Coke. Here’s what Mythbusters found out :

The physical structure of the Mentos is the most significant cause of the eruption due to nucleation. When flavored Mentos with a smooth waxy coating were tested in carbonated water, no reaction occurred, whereas standard Mentos added to carbonated water formed a small eruption, affirming the nucleation-site theory. The surface of the mint Mentos is littered with many small holes, allowing CO2 bubbles to form very rapidly and in great quantity, in turn causing the jet of foam. This was further supported when rock salt was used as an effective substitute for Mentos.

The students at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina came up with the following explanation :

Scanning electron microscope images show the roughness of mint Mentos (top and bottom left) and fruit Mentos (top and bottom right), the scale bars representing lengths from 20 to 200 micrometres (Image: T Coffey/Dewel Microscopy Facility/AAPT)

What happens if you pop in Mentos after you drink Coke or Pepsi ? Or Drink Coke or Pepsi after eating Mentos ?
No harmful chemicals are produced during this reaction. It’s all Carbon Dioxide that is liberated. Chewing the Mentos destroys the surface needed for the carbon dioxide bubbles to form. So nothing will ooze from your mouth.

Ironically, the Coke or Pepsi will come to your mouth from your stomach and perhaps even come out from your nostrils – only if you SWALLOW many Mentos as it is. Now, do you guys really swallow Mentos ? If you do, beware of the aftermath mess.

P.S : Another interesting rumor was that Coke dissolved iron nails in about four days. This popular myth is busted by John Madison in his blog post “Will Coke Dissolve a Nail?” Experiment. Regardless of whether aerated soft drinks like Coke or Pepsi dissolves nail or not, they have serious health effects (if you are in India). Coca-Cola and Pepsi has been scientifically proved not harmful in countries like US and EU nations.

In 2003, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-governmental organisation in New Delhi, said aerated waters produced by soft drinks manufacturers in India, including multinational giants Pepsico and Coca-Cola, contained toxins including lindane, DDT, malathion and chlorpyrifos — pesticides that can contribute to cancer and a breakdown of the immune system. Tested products included Coke, Pepsi, and several other soft drinks (7Up, Mirinda, Fanta, Thums Up, Limca, Sprite), many produced by The Coca-Cola Company.

CSE found that the Indian produced Pepsi’s soft drink products had 36 times the level of pesticide residues permitted under European Union regulations; Coca Cola’s 30 times. CSE said it had tested the same products in the US and found no such residues.

What is is acne ?
We call acne commonly as pimple. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the sebaceous gland present under the surface of your skin. Acne is more common between the age 13 to 30. Males are more frequently affected than females due to androgen activity in males.

Causes Of Acne :

• Harmonal Change
• Heredity
• Blockage of Hair Follicular Orifice
• Lipophilic Bacteria

Natural Risk factors that aggravate acne :

• Age – Puberty/Adolescence
• Stress and Tension
• Excess exposure to Sun

Common Misconceptions and Myths : These are scientifically NOT TRUE.

• Eating junk food with oily content causes acne.
• Eating chocolate increases acne.
• Rubbing the face with rough cloth clean pores and reduces acne.
• Iodine rich foods increase acne.
• Masturbation and sexual thoughts aggravates acne.
• Using excess soap and washing face very frequently reduces acne.

Some ‘Do’s and ‘Dont’s

• I’ve seen many of my friends who have severe acne wash their face roughly with soap very frequently. DO NOT DO THIS.
• Wash the skin very gently using mild soap and lukewarm water not more than twice a day.
• Wash your face after exercise and sweating.
• Do not squeeze or touch pimples with fingers frequently.
• Do not rub the skin with rough clothes.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid late nights.
• Practice relaxation, yoga, pranayam and meditation.

How to wash your acne affected face ?

1. Get the soap wet, using lukewarm water.
2. Using your fingertips or a soft washcloth, apply the soap to your skin and rub it gently into your skin using a circular motion.
3. Splash your face with lukewarm water until the soap is completely gone.
4. Pat — don’t rub — your skin until it’s dry. Use a soft cotton towel.

Natural Ayurvedic Home Made Remedies

• Drinking a half a cup of Aloe Vera juice, twice daily.
• Applying a paste of nutmeg and a little water to acne lesions and affected areas.
• Using orange peel face packs. The orange peels are pounded into a paste with a little water and applied to the affected areas.
• Applying chandana or turmeric powder.
• Applying garlic paste will reduce the scars or marks. Eating small doses of raw garlic purifies blood.
• Applying lemon juice will exfoliate dead skin cells.

Note : Skin creams containing Benzoyl Peroxide are very effective in combating moderate type of acne. In one study, roughly 70% of participants using benzoyl peroxide solution experienced a reduction in acne lesions after 6 weeks. I have used it and it’s effective. But over dosage can cause temporary dryness on your skin.