Dropping Mentos into a bottle of diet soda can cause a physical reaction: when the Mentos hits the soda, the Mentos candy breaks the bond between the carbon dioxide and water (the combination that makes the soda hiss), releasing carbon dioxide gas upwards to overflow the outside of the bottle. Once Mentos is put in diet soda and the bottle is closed, the gas will be trapped and create pressure. When the bottle drops hard to the ground, the cap snaps and the pressure releases, launching the bottle into the air.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Preparing the Ingredients
Step 1. Purchase a 2 liter bottle of Diet Coke
For example, here we use Diet Coke. But you can use any type of diet soda (as long as it contains aspartame).
Warm soda will make for a more intense explosion. So don't use soda that is cold or that has been refrigerated. For better results, buy soda at room temperature, then dry it outside or place it in a container of hot (non-boiling) water for a few hours before you use it
Step 2. Buy 1 pack of Mentos
Experiments have proven that the original Mentos Mint will produce a longer burst; while Mentos Fruit will produce a slightly shorter but more powerful explosion. Other experiments have shown that Mentos Mint is a better choice because the gum arabic in the mint coating reduces the surface tension and accelerates the release of carbon dioxide from the bottle, creating a more powerful explosion.
- Because rockets require a strong and fast explosion, so we better use Mentos Mint.
- If you have the time and money, just try making one bottle of rocket with Mentos Mint and another with Mentos Fruit and compare the results.
Step 3. Prepare a roll of paper tape
You may already have it. But if you haven't, you can buy it almost anywhere (to be safe, look at a bookstore).
Step 4. Purchase protective eyewear
The goggles will protect your eyes from the soda-Mentos spray as well as from other pieces of debris (such as bottle caps) that might fly off when the bottle hits the ground and explodes.
Step 5. Find a large open space to build a rocket
Chances are the rocket will bounce wildly, so make sure there's plenty of room. If you are in a parking lot, make sure there are no cars around, at least within a radius of 15 meters or more.
If there is an empty field or space, build a rocket there. You certainly don't want to damage other people's cars or houses, do you? You or your parents might have to spend a lot of money to pay for repairs
Step 6. Wear appropriate clothing
You will most likely be covered in a sticky Diet Coke-Mentos solution. Wear clothes and shoes that won't be a problem if they get wet and sticky. Choose materials that are easy to wash.
Part 2 of 4: Making Mentos Bullets
Step 1. Gather all the necessary materials
Take a 2-liter Diet Coke bottle, a pack of Mentos, paper tape, and safety glasses to the rocket factory.
Step 2. Cut 2 strips of paper tape 10cm long each
Place both tapes on a flat surface, with the sticky side facing up. Don't let them stick to each other.
Step 3. Remove 5 to 7 Mentos from the pack
The more Mentos you use, the more powerful the explosion. But don't let the Mentos dip too deep into the Diet Coke, or the bottle may explode before you have time to put the cap on.
Step 4. Place the Mentos on one of the tapes
Arrange the Mentos as they were in the original wrapper: stack them on top of each other like a bundle of coins.
Step 5. Put a second piece of tape over the Mentos
Keep the sides of the Mentos open.
Step 6. Cut an 8cm long piece of paper tape and wrap it around your finger with the sticky side facing out
Use this tape to glue the Mentos to the bottle cap. So make sure it's small enough to fit inside the bottle cap.
Step 7. Glue the rolled-up tape on the top of the Mentos
Take the rolled up 8cm tape and tape it to the top of the Mentos array. Now you've made Mentos bullets that fit into a Diet Coke bottle.
Step 8. Attach the Mentos cartridge to the inside of the Diet Coke bottle cap
Place the bottle cap on a flat surface, with the inside facing up. Glue the Mentos bullet on the inside of the bottle cap, and press it down so that it sticks firmly.
Don't press too hard so the Mentos don't fall from the bullets
Step 9. Secure the attachment of the bullet to the bottle cap using masking tape
You are not required to do this. But if you're worried about the Mentos falling into Diet Coke prematurely, you can strengthen the bullet by wrapping a piece of tape around the entire roll, including the bottle cap.
Part 3 of 4: Charge and Launch the Rocket
Step 1. Attach the bullet cap to the Diet Coke bottle
This cap should be securely attached, but not too tight. If it's too tight, the cap won't come off when you throw the bottle, and the rocket will fail. When you put the lid on, make sure the Mentos don't get on the Diet Coke.
If Mentos looks like it's about to touch Diet Coke, you can throw in a little Diet Coke before putting on the cap, or throw out some Mentos bullets, or you can bet your luck putting the cap on the bottle as quickly as possible
Step 2. Shake the bottle
Shake the bottle until all the Mentos fall into the Diet Coke. Keep shaking for a few seconds.
Step 3. Launch
There are several different ways to launch a rocket:
- The most popular and effective way is to throw the bottle up and let it fall to the ground (preferably on a hard place, like cement). This is the best way to go if you're worried about getting hit by a rocket, because this way you can throw it far away and then run in the opposite direction.
- Another way is to throw the rocket sideways. So when the rocket hits the ground, the impact will throw off the bottle cap.
- Another way is to throw the bottle at an angle of more than 90 degrees down.
Step 4. Try again
You can skip this step once the rocket has already taken off. If the rocket doesn't shoot up when you throw it, grab it and loosen the bottle cap a little before throwing it back. Don't twist the lid too loose, or you might suddenly get covered in Diet Coke.
Step 5. Enjoy the show
When the bottle hits the ground, the cap will pop and the Diet Coke-Mentos solution will shoot out of the mouth of the bottle and send the bottle flying high into the air. Depending on how you throw it, the bottle can also bounce around sporadically for a few seconds.
- Launching sideways usually makes the bottle bounce low and slide over the ground.
- A vertical launch (by throwing the bottle perpendicular to the air and letting it fall to the ground) tends to make the rocket go higher as it shoots back up.
- If the bottle is still full of Diet Coke and Mentos but has stopped moving on the ground, you can try launching it again to see if there's still any explosive energy left.
Step 6. Clean everything
After this experiment is over, don't forget to clean yourself up. Clean up any splattered Mentos tape or wraps that were left when you built the rocket. And take the rocket! Clean the bottle and throw it in the trash.
Part 4 of 4: Rocket Fun
Step 1. Use different amounts of Mentos
The larger the number, the more powerful the explosion. Experiment with putting different amounts of Mentos in a Diet Coke bottle to see which one makes the best explosion.
Step 2. Combine Mentos Mint and Fruit into one bullet
Experiments have shown that Mentos Mint and Fruit produce different explosions. Just try mixing the two in one bullet and popping it in a Diet Coke bottle to see what kind of explosion it creates when the two are combined.
Step 3. Make the rocket bigger
Fill an empty 4 liter milk jug with 4 liters of Diet Coke (2 2 liter bottles of Diet Coke each). Leave enough room at the top to fit at least 8 Mentos bullets.
As in the original rocket recipe, glue the Mentos bullets to the lid of the milk jug, attach the lid, shake the jerry can to release the Mentos into the Diet Coke, then toss the jerry can in the air and let it fall to the ground
Step 4. Create a race
Gather friends and build each other's rockets. Put up a flag or other means of measuring height, and assign a judge to see and determine the winner.
Tips
- Rock salt and regular granulated sugar will also react with Diet Coke and cause an explosion, but they are less effective than Mentos.
- Adding Mentos to regular Coke or any other regular soda will also result in an explosion. But it seems diet soda is the best. Experts believe this is due to the aspartame content in diet soda, which facilitates the formation of bubbles.
- Don't chop the Mentos. Adding chopped Mentos to Diet Coke can still produce an explosion, but it won't be as big or strong as using whole Mentos. That's because the explosion depends on the width of the surface area and the density of the Mentos. Chopping the Mentos will eliminate both the surface area width and the Mentos density.
Warning
- Keep your distance from the rocket. Chances are the rocket will move very fast and can cause severe damage.
- Wear eye protection.
- Build a rocket in the field or in an empty space far from your house, car, etc. The cost of repairing window glass is quite expensive.
