Why do fizzy drinks "erupt" when mint flavoured Mentos is dropped into it?(What we know)
by Hon Ta Yi
1. The "eruption" when mint flavoured Mentos is dropped into fizzy drinks is caused by nucleation.
1.1. New node
2. Fizzy drinks are needed, but the effect mint flavoured Mentos has on Diet Coke, when dropped into it, is the greatest than any other.
3. The caffeine, potassium benzoate, aspartame, and CO2 gas contained in the Diet Coke, in combination with the gelatin and gum arabic ingredients of the mint flavoured Mentos, all contribute to the "eruption", when it is dropped into fizzy drinks.
4. Only mint flavoured Mentos will cause the "eruption" in fizzy drinks when dropped into them.
5. Other flavoured Mentos will not cause the eruption as they have glazing over their surface, which gives them their flavour and also smoothens the surface, therefore, they will not have the pores present on the mint flavoured Mentos' surface, which causes the "eruption" when it is dropped into fizzy drinks.
6. Nucleation is caused in mint flavoured Mentos because it has lots of tiny pores on its surface which allows carbon dioxide bubbles to form and escape, which causes the "eruption", when it is dropped into fizzzy drinks.
