3 pieces of equipment: 1 2-L bottle of soda (diet is easier to clean up-as is lemon-lime vs. a cola or colored soda which might stain onlookers), 1 pkg. Mentos mints (the chewy mint from Holland but available at many U.S. grocery stores-don't eat the mints even though they are yummy-buy a second package for a treat after the experiment), and, finally, a piece of plain paper.
Roll paper into a cylinder shape with a diameter just big enough for the Mentos to fit and to fall into the opening of the soda bottle. Unwrap Mentos and fill paper cylinder with all the candies-lining them up just like they were aligned in the packaging. Hold them in by covering the bottom of the cylinder and keeping the cylinder shape.
Have someone fast and agile take the cylinder of Mentos to the just barely opened bottle of soda that has been placed on a stable platform such as cement, asphalt or a piece of wood (as shown in the picture) [do this experiment outside with a lot of room]. Have them remove their finger from the bottom of the cylinder and let all the Mentos fall into the soda bottle. Jump back quickly. (See bottom picture of a geyser of soda.)
Thank you to Secret Science:25 Science Experiments Your Teacher Doesn't Know About by Steve Spangler for the Mentos Geyser Experiment. Read more about the experiment and why it works so well with Mentos by checking out the book from your local library (or by studying up on nucleation.) Thank you also to Mentos which is a trademark candy. Support science! Buy Mentos! (Disclaimer: we purchased everything for this experiment and have not received any supplies or support or compensation of any kind from any outside source for this experiment.)
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