It is well known that dropping Mentos into a bottle of coke will cause a sudden eruption of a geyser of soda foam. It has been a popular science experiment which is performed by children and adults alike.
There is an urban myth spreading in the internet about people who died after eating Mentos and drinking coke. The stories claim that their stomach swelled up and exploded. While it sounds credible based on countless videos of the experiment, nothing could actually be further from the truth when it takes place inside a human body.
The Science Behind the Explosion
This experiment only requires two ingredients to make the geyser. To create a spectacular reaction, Mentos candies are needed in an adequate quantity to be placed in a bottle of fizzy drink. At least five pieces of Mentos are good enough for a 2-liter bottle of coke.
All Mentos must be added to the drink simultaneously to give them equal time to create an effect. As the candies are dropped into the bottle, an explosion will be formed seconds later where the 'fountain' goes up high in the sky.
A typical 2-liter coke contains 12-15 grams of dissolved carbon dioxide which gives the drink its fizziness.. This gas tries to escape and form bubbles around any irregular surface, called a nucleation site.
Mentos have nucleation sites because they are not as smooth as they appear. When they are added to coke, the carbon dioxide molecules get attached to them. The dissolved gas pushes the liquid out of the container at a super-fast speed in the form of bubbles. Moreover, the tiny pores on a larger surface area of Mentos speed up the release of the gas. This creates bubbles that rise to the surface and push the drink which will eventually result in a blast.
In short, the candies simply catalyze the release of gas from the coke bottle. The highest recorded explosion of soda foam was10 meters. Most people believe that the more Mentos are added to coke, the bigger and higher the eruption will be. However, the number of Mentos that will trigger the reaction is limited. Through various experiments and investigations, it has been concluded that seven pieces of Mentos candy is the maximum amount.
Effect of the Reaction to the Human Body
Eating Mentos while drinking soda will not burst a person's stomach. It is not dangerous actually because most of the carbonation is released as a person drinks the soda. The pressure is lower and the carbon dioxide will not nucleate.
While the reaction will seem fine when it happens inside the body, children and adults are still not advised to do such a thing. Trying to do so can still cause a number of health-related concerns that must be avoided.
First, eating Mentos and drinking coke at the same time can pose a choking hazard, especially if they are consumed together quickly. They can create a sticky combination which may get stuck in the throat, leading to difficulty of breathing or even choking.
This experiment can also lead to potential gastrointestinal issues. The rapid release of carbon dioxide bubbles can cause gastric discomfort which can cause burping or even vomiting. It must be noted, however, that there have been no reported deaths caused by this combination. Although it may cause some temporary stomach upset, it is not considered dangerous.
Dental damage can also arise from this reaction when it happens inside the body. The combination of coke carbonation and the chewy texture of Mentos can be harmful to the teeth. Some soda like coke have high sugar content, which could combine with the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth to form plaque.
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