Here’s what happens when you mix Coca-Cola and bleach, in case you were wondering
We know this question has been keeping you awake at night (don’t deny it!): What happens when you pour Clorox into a bottle of Coca-Cola?
Well, plan on catching some major zzz’s tonight, because we finally have an answer for you.
YouTuber CrazyRussianHacker recently posted a video of himself mixing bleach into a glass of Coke. Personally, I was expecting the soda to react similarly to when combine with Mentos, but the result wasn’t so explosive. Instead, the color of the liquid immediately began to lighten, first to yellow, then to completely clear. By the end of the video, you might mistake the drink to be a cup of water (which could be a serious issue if you try the experiment at home).
Bleach removes color through oxidation, breaking down the chemicals that create visible hues. We’re used to seeing bleach remove green grass stains or red wine stains (or, if you’ve had a particularly crazy night partying, both), but we usually only see the magic happen on solid materials, like shirts or jeans or that Forever 21 dress you wore to your BFF’s bachelorette party.
It’s hard to imagine that the hydrogen peroxide in cleaning products can work in liquid, especially one as dark as Coke. Bleach works on Coca-Cola because the soda gets its color from loads of caramel dyes (don’t Google it if you have a weak stomach). If you pour food coloring into a glass of water and then mix it with bleach, that concoction would also turn clear.Science, y’all! It’s amazing.
Watch the crazy transformation below:
(Image via Shutterstock.)