This Coke can disappearing act is a fun experiment that reveals the hidden layer inside the soda’s packaging.
According to MEL Science, who posted their own version of this experiment in May, Coke is packaged in two layers of protective material, and only one of them can withstand drain cleaner.
This ordinary aluminum can is concealing a devious secret – it is covered with a protective layer not only on the outside, but on the inside as well! When we remove its paint coating, we expose the aluminum, which easily reacts with a drain cleaner that contains an alkaline component. But even when the aluminum has dissolved completely, the drink will not leak out. There is a second material inside the can – a layer of plastic that keeps the drink itself from interacting with the aluminum.
If you try it yourself, MEL Science adds a safety precaution: “Wear protective gloves, glasses, and a mask. Work in a well-ventilated area. Perform this experiment under adult supervision only!”
MEL Science’s version of the experiment:
