| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
Well, I've searched high and low for a Pixie Stick or Fun Dip so I could repeat your friend's experiment but I haven't had any luck. I should also say that I am very skeptical that this reaction would cause the bottom of the can to fall apart... but let me go back a step to your first observations.
Dropping candy into a soda causes fizzing because the candy gives the carbon dioxide bubbles something to form on. See these previous answers for more details:
Wh
y did the soda/wintergreen lifesavers geiser work?
Ho
w do mints in diet cola make it fizz?"
Warm or room temperature soda will fizz more because carbon dioxide is significantly less soluble in warm liquid than cold. For more information, see the second row of boxes in this link:Temperature/ Pressure on Solubility. If you repeat your experiments, you'll notice that the cold soda will be more carbonated after you've dropped the candy in it because less will or wanted to escape.
Your friend should have seen the same type of reaction that you did, maybe just a little faster because the powder has more surface area than the Smarties on which the CO2 bubbles can form. The bottom of the can should not disintegrate because all soda cans are lined with a polymer to prevent the aluminum from reacting with the acid in the soda. If this liner was damaged, a reaction could take place but it would take more than a matter of seconds for the aluminum to fail. I am not sure what else to tell you...
So, thanks for your questions!
Kieran
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Chemistry.