Cola fountains: a nucleation spectacular
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What happens when you drop Mentos candy into a bottle of cola? Surface area, candy glaze, carbon dioxide, and a small amount of time all make a difference.
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Nucleation is the extremely localized budding of a distinct thermodynamic phase. What exactly does that mean? Check it out here!
What other fun experiments can you do with candy? What about the old myth that you pop rocks and soda is a dangerous combo? Or, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop? Can you think of others?
Sometimes, science is edible. Make crystals -- and then eat them. Find out how to make rock candy here (here's a video tutorial).
Carbon dioxide (chemical formula CO2) is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state, as a trace gas at a concentration of 0.039 per cent by volume.
Mentos is a brand of mints, of the "scotch mint" type, sold in many markets across the world by the Perfetti Van Melle corporation. Mentos was first produced in the Netherlands during 1948. The mints are small oblate spheroids, with a slightly hard exterior and a soft, chewy interior. They are sold in rolls which typically contain 12 mint discs, although the new "Sour Mix" flavor contains only 11 discs per roll. Certain flavors are sold in boxes in Australia, the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom, and the rolls are available in four packs. The slogan of Mentos is "The Freshmaker". Most Mentos packages describe the mints as "chewy dragées." The typical Mentos roll is approximately 2 cm in diameter and weighs 38 grams.
What other fun experiments can you do with candy? What about the old myth that you pop rocks and soda is a dangerous combo? Or, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop? Can you think of others?
Sometimes, science is edible. Make crystals -- and then eat them. Find out how to make rock candy here (here's a video tutorial).
Carbon dioxide (chemical formula CO2) is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state, as a trace gas at a concentration of 0.039 per cent by volume.
Mentos is a brand of mints, of the "scotch mint" type, sold in many markets across the world by the Perfetti Van Melle corporation. Mentos was first produced in the Netherlands during 1948. The mints are small oblate spheroids, with a slightly hard exterior and a soft, chewy interior. They are sold in rolls which typically contain 12 mint discs, although the new "Sour Mix" flavor contains only 11 discs per roll. Certain flavors are sold in boxes in Australia, the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom, and the rolls are available in four packs. The slogan of Mentos is "The Freshmaker". Most Mentos packages describe the mints as "chewy dragées." The typical Mentos roll is approximately 2 cm in diameter and weighs 38 grams.
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