Ethanol as a Probe for the Mechanism of Bubble Nucleation in the Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment.

ABSTRACT: The Diet Coke and Mentos experiment involves dropping Mentos candies into carbonated beverages to produce a fountain. This simple experiment has enjoyed popularity with science teachers and the general public. Studies of the physicochemical processes involved in the generation of the fountain have been largely informed by the physics of bubble nucleation. Herein, we probe the effect of ethanol addition on the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment to explore the impact that beverage surface tension and viscosity have on the heights of fountains achieved. Our results indicate that current descriptions of the effects of surface tension and viscosity are not completely understood. We also extend and apply a previously reported, simplified version of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller theory to investigate kinet

SUBMITTER: Kuntzleman TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8002754 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature