Mint Reaction Lab

Note: I use this lab at the beginning of the year to practice the scientific process, but it could also be modified and used in a chemistry unit.

Problem - Which mint\ candy will have the biggest reaction with Diet Soda (Diet Pepsi in this experiment)?

Hypothesis -

Experiment - Supplies: Altoids, Ice Breakers, Pop Rocks, Mentos, Life Savers, Cups, and Diet Pepsi.

Step 1: Add 50 mL of Diet Pepsi to 5 cups (50 mL each)

Step 2: Drop 1 mint (use 1 teaspoon for Pop Rocks) into every cup with Diet Pepsi, and observe

Measure reactions on a scale 1 (least reactive) to 5 (most reactive)

Control - Granite rock in water (this represents 0 on the rating scale)

Independent Variable - Mint\Candy

Dependent Variable - Reaction

Results

Mint\Candy	Lifesaver	Ice Breaker	Altoids	Pop Rocks	Mentos
Reaction

Conclusion -

Potential Errors/Things to look out for
1-Diet Coke may be a better soda for this. It would be worth testing in another experiment
2-After dropping the mint in, give the cup a little shake

Other extensions: