Home >> Science & Nature >> Science

Pop Rocks & Soda Science Project

While Pop Rocks were invented by research chemist William A. Mitchell in 1954, it would be 20 years before the public was exposed to the exploding candy. Pop Rocks, which initially came in grape and cherry flavors, are available in eight different flavors as of 2011. Since the late 1970s, there has been some speculations about the explosive nature of the granulated candy. Though the Food and Drug Administration has helped to dispel the myths, there is an experiment used to test the candy.

Myth (Hypothesis)
- Rumors began to surface about possible fatalities in connection with Pop Rocks as early as 1978, according to the book "Mythbusters Science Fair Book" by Samantha Margles. The most popular claimed that candy would become an explosive mixture if combined with soda. There was even an urban legend that a kid's stomach exploded when drinking a carbonated beverage soon after consuming the popping candy. These rumors sparked an alarm with parents. General Foods, the original manufacturer of the candy, issued a formal letter to parents, stating that the gaseous ingredients in the candy were harmless in soda. A simple scientific experiment proves that statement..
Candy's Ingredients
- Pop Rocks share ingredients used in other forms of candy such as sugar, lactose, corn syrup, flavorings and colorings. After this candy mixture is brought to a boil, it is infused with carbon dioxide, which forms tiny bubbles in the candy. The mixture shatters once it's cooled, but still retains the some of the bubbles. These bubbles release -- or pop -- when consumed. However, the amount of carbon dioxide the candy retains is less than that found in soda.
Experiment
- Tools needed to conduct the experiment are normally can be found around the house. Other than a packet of the Pop Rocks candy, you need 16-ounce bottle of soda, funnel and 9-inch balloon. Using a funnel, pour one packet of Pop Rocks into a balloon. Stretch the mouth of the balloon over the bottle's opening. Once the balloon is secure around the bottle's neck, lift it up and release the Pop Rocks into the soda. The more carbon dioxide that is released by the mixture, the bigger the balloon will expand, thus showing its explosive nature.
Results
- The balloon will not to inflate by much, as stated in the book by Samantha Margles. This is because in order for the Pop Rock candy to pop, it needs a physical exertion of pressure. Once the Pop Rock candy dissolves in the soda, the carbon dioxide bubbles lose their explosive power. The Pop Rock candy might cause some of the soda's carbon dioxide to escape, causing the balloon to inflate a little. Otherwise, the reaction is relatively mild, and thus also harmless if ingested.

Science