The Diet Coke and Mentos Project

What is the Diet Coke and Mentos Project?

The DCMP is a University of Wisconsin - River Falls based project to determine, analyze and apply data from the reaction of Coke with Mentos, and other reactants, like sea salt. The reaction is primarily based on physical properties of the carbonated beverage and the surface texture of the mentos, but there is definately a chemical aspect.

This wiki is dedicated to provided the data, findings, interpretations, and methods we record, as well as the applications we put it to. We try to present it all with as thorough coverage as we can, incorporating photos, detailed descriptions, tips and troubleshooting ideas for the difficulties we encountered or predicted.

Wait, what good could possibly come out of research into Coke-based reactions?

At first glance, it does seem fairly rediculous to care this much about such a relatively low-yield reaction, especially considering the relatively high cost of Coke and Mentos. However, while there are few direct applications of the reaction, there are numerous educational benefits, and the safety of the low pressure yield, as well as the lack of any damaging reactants/products, provides a perfect testing ground for designing systems that utilize similar reactions with higher, or more dangerous yeild.

On an educational basis, for instance, a clear resin-made piston engine powered by a diet coke and mentos reaction, assuming it maintained key aspects of the standard internal combustion based system, would be ideal for beginning engineering classes, especially since they would be able to build all the parts themselves, and watch all the reactions take place, and study how the system works, all within a budget of appx. $200, and without dangerous emissions or pressures.

Similarly, and much more simply, various types of turbines can be powered with the reaction. No need for steam. No need for electricity, pumps, or ignition. No gaseous exhast (except C02).

The applications don't end here. That's why this wiki exists. We do the testing, we get the data, we muck through the problems, so you are free to come up with your own ideas. Everything you see here is free, and can be printed, distributed and copied as often as needed. Feel free to experiment.

Okay, fine. Why diet coke?

That's a rather simple answer. Diet coke doesn't have any sugar, which means it doesn't stick. Very few applications actually WANT things to stick, so Diet Coke is preferable to regular Coke.

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