The Amazing Coke and Mentos Experiment
(You've Just Gotta' See This!)

Okay, David Letterman and Jay Leno both couldn't resist this, and despite the obvious free plugs neither can we… this video rebroadcast below really is quite incredible.

Turn up your speakers and then watch in amazement at what happens when 500 Mentos mints are combined with 200 liters of Diet Coke.

The "scientists" turn the simple Coke geyser into a hysterical and spectacular mint-powered version of the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas.

This video experiment was originated by EepyBird.com, a fun site that also provides the following answer to the inevitable question…

How Does It Work???

"There has been a lot of discussion online about why Diet Coke and Mentos make such an interesting combination. What everyone can agree on is that the carbon dioxide that has been compressed into the soda escapes so rapidly that the pressure pushes the soda out of the bottle. It's like shaking a bottle before you open it, but even more dramatic.

"… These chemists are saying that the primary cause is physical, not chemical. Their explanation: nucleation sites. If you have a liquid that is supersaturated with gas (like soda, which is pumped full of carbon dioxide), a nucleation site is a place where the gas is able to form bubbles. Nucleation sites can be scratches on a surface or specks of dust - anywhere that you have a high surface area in a very small volume. That's where bubbles can form.

"Mentos seem to be loaded with nucleation sites. In other words, there are so many microscopic nooks and crannies on the surface of a Mento that an incredible number of bubbles will form when you drop it in a bottle of soda. Since the Mentos are also heavy enough to sink, they react with the soda all the way to the bottom. The escaping bubbles quickly turn into a raging foam, and the pressure builds dramatically. Before you know it, you've got a big geyser happening!"

The Other Big Question

As for the same reaction happening in your gut if you mix Mentos and Coke, according to EepyBird:

"Well, a lot of the fizz goes away as you drink. Then when bubbles are released in your stomach, your stomach can expand a bit, and it also has ways of releasing excess pressure. Do not, repeat, do not be stupid and test the limits of your stomach. Don't even think about it."

But if you are thinking about it, also consider this cautionary video tale.

A big thanks to the brilliant scientists at , of course!