Scientists have added Mentos to Coca-Cola on top of the mountain. When climbing Mount Pikes Peak, the researchers measured the amount of foam generated as a result of the experiment – and demonstrated how its course is affected by changes in atmospheric pressure. The work of scientists from Springs Arbor University is published in the journal Journal of Chemical Education.
The experience with the addition of the mentos dragee to the Coca-Cola diet became popular in 2006 – after the episode of the show “Legend Destroyers”, in which the facilitators explained the process that occurs during the experiment.
The reason for the sharp foaming of Coca-Cola when adding Mentos is that with the addition of aspartame and under the condition of microporosity of the dragee, the low surface tension of the drink leads to an increase in the ability to form bubbles on its surface.
The main goal of the new study was to demonstrate the Boyle-Mariotte law, and the experiment was chosen for greater clarity. Researchers climbed Mount Pikes Peak in Colorado and threw dragees into the drink every 300 meters, measuring the amount of foam released.
The higher the researchers went up, the more foam Coca-Cola released when Mentos was added. So, if about 600 ml of foam was released at the foot of the mountain, then at the top, located at an altitude of about 4 thousand meters above sea level, its amount grew four times – up to 1.8 thousand ml.
