Mary Therese R. Tandingan.

Grade 7A-Claude Bernard.

Siyensikula: Local Science Fair

Entry Video Script

Substance/Solution/Soda Clearing Experiment

Soda Decolorizing Experiment

What’s up everybody? I am Mary Therese Rivera Tandingan from Juan R. Liwag Memorial
High School and I am here with you to find out, “What will happen to the Coca-Cola solution if
bleach is mixed into it?”
Have you ever wondered what Coca-Cola would look like if it didn’t have its distinctive brown
hue? What if it didn’t have any color? Like pure water? That is exactly what we will be finding
out today! I like to call it “The Soda Decolorizing Experiment”. So, shall we start?
(Insert cheering sound effect)
Preparatory to start the experiment, we will be needing our materials which is:
• 2 plastic containers
• 500 milliliters (ml) of Coca-Cola
• 300 milliliters (ml) of Bleach, in which we will be using Zonrox
• A material for stirring
• Betadine (Povidone-Iodine)
• Glass of Water (200 milliliters)
Before we start our journey, does anyone know what is the meaning of color? … Ok…
Color or colour is the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the
eye as a result of the way the object reflects or emits light.
(Insert photos of color in media format)
What do you think about when you hear Coca-Cola? Well, my answer to that is its color. Coca-
Cola contains added caramel color, which gives the drink its characteristic color. The distinctive
brown hue the drink retains is one of the reasons the effervescent refresher is well-known.
(Insert multimedia of Coca-Cola drink)
What about bleach? What do you think about when you hear bleach? Aside from its job to clean
or to remove stains in a process called bleaching. Bleach is a chemical compound used to remove
color from a fabric or fiber. It works by the process of oxidation, or the alternation of a
compound by the introduction of oxygen molecules. Bleach is typically based on chlorine, such
as sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, etc. [1a]
(Insert multimedia of bleach- Zonrox)
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We are now at the first part of our journey. Let’s get to it!
As our first step, pour the 250 milliliters (ml) of Coca-Cola into the container, then pour 150
milliliters (ml) of bleach. Does anyone notice the color of the Coca-Cola fading? The Coca-Cola
variegates as the bleach is being poured into it, meaning that the Coca-Cola is altering
appearance because of the bleach. And now, use your material for stirring to blend the Coke-
Bleach mixture. Then, let it sit for about 15 minutes.
While we are waiting, why did the Coca-Cola solution lose its color when bleach was poured
into it?
On reaction with coke (coca cola), bleach decolorizes it. In other words, after a few minutes of
mixing, coke will lose all its color and the solution turns practically colorless. Bleach, typically,
works as an oxidizing agent and breaks the bonds of molecules responsible for color (termed as
chromophores) and causes discoloration. [1b]
Now that we know what happens to the Coca-Cola solution if bleach is mixed into it. Let’s now
see if there will be a difference if the Coca-Cola solution is poured into the bleach solution.
First, pour the 150 milliliters (ml) of bleach (Zonrox) into the plastic container. And now, pour
250 milliliters (ml) of Coca-Cola. Blend the mixture together using your material for stirring.
Then, let it sit again for 15 minutes until it has a seemingly clear appearance.
-
We’re not done yet. Before we reach the end of our journey, we have a few questions to answer
for us to better understand our experiment.
We have already answered on what will happen to the Coca-Cola solution if bleach is mixed into
it. But when the Coca-Cola solution was poured into the bleach (Zonrox), was there any
difference?
Yes. Do you see those bubbles? The container in which we poured the Coca-Cola first had more
noticeable bubbles than the container in which we poured the bleach first.
Can bleach also decolorize any other substance other than Coca-Cola?
My answer to that is yes. For example, if you pour bleach into a glass of water with food
coloring, the concoction would turn clear. [2] Same goes for the Betadine-Water-Bleach
experiment, the solution would also turn clear.
And to our final question, as it looks like water, can we drink this?
When chlorine molecules react randomly with organic compounds like caramel color, they can
create dioxin-like chemicals, which are highly carcinogenic to humans and unusually resistant to
degradation. [3]
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And that’s the end of our journey. Hope you learned something from it and until next time!

References:
[1] L. Tanner, Ph.D. “What happens when you mix bleach with coke?”. Enotes.com.
(https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-happens-when-you-mix-bleach-with-coke-
584124)
[2] C. Wolfgram. “Here’s what happens when you mix Coca-Cola and bleach, in case you were
wondering”. HelloGiggles. December 2015. (https://hellogiggles.com/lifestyle/food-drink/mix-
coke-and-bleach/)
[3] American Physical Society. ‘The Physics of Bleach”. Physics Buzz - Physics Central.
January 04, 2016. (http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2016/01/the-physics-of-bleach.html)