Science Projects With Soft Drinks

Soda pop is a beverage consumed by students of all ages, so it only makes sense to use soda in school science projects. The options for science projects that use soda as a main element vary widely and can be modified to provide a challenge for students at nearly any grade level.

Diet Cola Geyser

Examine the molecular make up of soda and what happens when diet soda molecules are disturbed by creating a diet coke geyser. Open a 2-liter bottle of diet cola and place it on flat ground in a wide open space. Roll a piece of paper and place the tip inside of the soda bottle to create a funnel. Get ready to run away, and quickly drop a roll of unwrapped peppermint chew candies into the soda. Once your geyser has exploded, examine the effects of the candy on the diet soda that causes the extreme bubbling action.

pH Comparisons

Determine which soda is the most acidic by testing the pH of your favorite pops. Start with five to ten different types of soda. Use litmus paper or a pH meter to test the individual pH of each soda. Once the pH of each soda has been recorded, consider why the acid content of soda would matter. Examine the effects of acidic beverages on the human body and conclude which soda is best for for individuals who may have trouble processing acidic sodas.

Which Soda is Most Corrosive?

Using simple supplies, students can examine which sodas are most corrosive. To begin, students will need a selection of five to ten different sodas and the same number of tarnished pennies. After pouring the same amount of each soda into separate cups, students will drop one tarnished penny in each cup. Over a period of one week, students should monitor which sodas are removing the tarnish from the pennies most quickly. At the end of the experiment, students can conclude that the most corrosive sodas are also the most acidic.

Coca Cola Myth Busters

A vast amount of stories about Coca Cola's unexpected powers, such as its ability to remove rust and grease, are documented on the internet. Conduct a science project that researches the different myths surrounding the Coca Cola product. Select five myths to put to the test and conduct simple experiments to prove or disprove each myth. Once a myth has been tested, apply scientific theories to figure out why the myth did, or didn't, pan out.