This summer my boys and I created a Summer Bucket List. We added all the things we wanted to do and places we wanted to see.
My oldest son is really interested in science and loves mixing substances. We decided to make a Mento Geyser. The boys were really excited and I liked the fact that this experiment was EASY to do and INEXPENSIVE.
To make a Mento Geyser you will need:
- 1 pack of Mint Mentos
- 2-liter bottle of Diet Pepsi
- Tape
- Piece of Paper
- Playing Card (we used a Pokemon Card)
Make a Paper Tube
Roll and tape a piece of paper into a tube about the size of the bottle top. It should be large enough to fit the Mentos but small enough so they fit single file.
Fill the Tube with Mentos
Line your Mentos up single file in the paper tube making sure they are loose enough to slip out. Cover the bottom opening with the playing card.
Position the Tube
Using the card to cover the bottle opening, position the paper tube over the bottle spout.
3-2-1 Erupt!
Gently slide the card out, allowing the Mentos to slip into the bottle. It’s key to make sure all the Mentos enter the soda pretty quickly. On our first attempt half spilled onto the grass and we didn’t get the results we expected.
First Attempt –
Second Attempt – Was Much Cooler
The Science Behind It
Time to learn something! We explained to the boys that this was a chemical reaction. The Mentos are dense, or heavy, and drop to the bottom of the soda. The sugar (aspartame) in the soda reacts with the chemicals in the Mentos and tiny bubbles of Carbon Dioxide are released. They race up and out of the bottle creating a geyser.
Let’s Do It Again!
The boys loved this and asked to do it again, so next time we might experiment with changing up some of the variables.
- Diet vs. Regular Soda
- Refrigerated Soda vs. Room Temperature Soda
- Freshly Opened Bottle vs. Flat Soda
- 1 pack of Mentos vs. 2 Packs of Mentos (this was the boys’ idea)
Cheers to Making Science Fun!
