“Will Coke Dissolve A Nail?“ Experiment
Every now and then someone sends me an e-mail that claims the difference between Coke and water, and how bad Coke is for you. To illustrate that, the e-mail points out that Coke can be used to clean a toilet, help remove a rusty bolt or remove blood from a highway accident.
One item that caught my eye was the one that says:
The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.
This one entry screamed that it just can't be true. Let's examine it:
"The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid." An active ingredient is defined as: "a component or mixture that performs the function of the product". What exactly is the function of Coca-Cola? According to the Coca-Cola web site, Coca-Cola does not perform any function, other than to provide "true refreshment" (a bit vague of a function if you ask me). To that end, I would be inclined to believe that the sugar and water in Coke are more likely to be called "active ingredients" than phosphoric acid, although phosphoric acid does contribute to the taste of Coke.
"Its pH is 2.8." Its pH may very well be 2.8, but with the amount that is actually in a can of Coke, I'm sure that the other ingredients buffer it. Ever drink a glass of wine? Good quality wine has a pH of about 2.9. pH of 2.8 is about the pH of lemon juice. A pH of 2.8 might make your mouth pucker, but it won't hurt you.
"It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days." What will? Based on elementary school English, the subject of the first sentence is phosphoric acid. The "it" in the second and third sentences are pronouns referring to phosphoric acid in the first sentence. That means that phosphoric acid will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. What does that have to do with Coke? Is it the only ingredient in there? I have hydrochloric acid in my stomach with a pH of 2...if I hold a nail in my hand for four days, will it dissolve? Again, the other ingredients in Coke will buffer the relatively small amount of phosphoric acid found in Coca-Cola.
So, now that we have dissected it, lets go ahead and test it!
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment is to test the validity of the "The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It's pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days." statement that is found in several e-mails making their way around the Internet. Specifically, will a nail left in Coca-Cola dissolve in about four days (96 hours).
The first thing that came to mind is that the e-mail did not specifically say which variety of Coke it was talking about. In the absence of a particular variety, I would assume that the plain old Classic Coca-Cola variety would be assumed. To be on the safe side, I included four of the most popular varieties of Coke: Classic Coke, Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke and Cherry Coke. For good measure, I also included Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Sprite and some genuine, fresh, New York City tap water (it's won taste tests!).
The second thing that came to mind is that the e-mail did not specifically say what kind of nail the nail is. It is steel? Brass? Lead? Keratin? I decided that the two most popular kinds (and the kinds most likely to be found in my apartment) were the standard steel, "wall mounting" nail, and the keratin based fingernail. I rummaged around my toolbox and found the former. The latter was a bit harder to come by. I had just cut my nails earlier in the week, and didn't have much growth to make an effective experiment. But my toenails were due for a trimming; they would do nicely. Only problem was that when clipped, they have a tendancy to fly accross the room at a high rate of speed. This made gathering them up a bit of a challenge, but testing the veracity of the e-mail claims are my contribution to society, and as such, a little discomfort would have to be endured.
The following table details the list of equipment used in this experiment. To see the ingredients list for the sodas used in the experiment, click here.
| Quantity | Item |
1/4 oz. |
Coca-Cola (Classic) |
1/4 oz. |
Diet Coke |
1/4 oz. |
Vanilla Coke |
1/4 oz. |
Cherry Coke |
1/4 oz. |
Pepsi |
1/4 oz. |
Dr. Pepper |
1/4 oz. |
Sprite |
1/4 oz. |
NYC tap water, unfiltered, straight from the tap |
9 |
glass spice jars with tops |
9 |
steel, 1" nails |
9 |
toenails of various sizes from Josh |
1 |
8x Carl Zeiss loupe |
1 |
Revlon toenail clipper (for clipping the toenails) |
3 |
Paper towels (for general spills, toenail clippings, etc.) |
1 |
small glass food preparation bowl |
The following photos were of the initial setup:
December 14, 2003
Each spice jar was labeled with the name of the liquid that it was to hold. 1/4 oz. of each liquid in the experiment was measured out and poured into the corresponding spice jar. A steel and keratin nail were randomly chosen and assigned to each jar. Each jar, steel nail and keratin nail were photographed. The steel nail and keratin nail were examined under the 8x loupe and notes were made about their appearances.
At 2100 hours (Eastern Standard Time (EST)) the nails were put into the jars, and the tops were put on the jars. The tops were not screwed on tightly, but rather left a little loose to allow some gas to escape.
I will check on the progress at 2100 hours tomorrow.
December 15, 2003
At 2100 hours (24 hours after starting the experiment) the nails in each jar were photographed, examined with the 8x loupe and compared to the control samples and the notes made at the start of the experiment.
Both the steel nails and the keratin nails from the Coke, Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke, Cherry Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper showed no signs of change, other than a darker color. The steel nail and keratin nail in the Sprite showed no sign of change other than a slightly duller color. The steel nail in the tap water showed some signs of surface rust, with the water near the nail a medium rust color. The keratin nail in the water showed no changes.
I will check on the progress at 2100 hours tomorrow.
December 16, 2003
At 2100 hours (48 hours after starting the experiment) the nails in each jar were photographed, examined with the 8x loupe and compared to the control samples and the notes made at the start of the experiment and after 24 hours.
Both the steel nails and the keratin nails from the Coke, Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper showed no signs of change, other than the darker color seen yesterday. The steel nail and keratin nail in the Sprite showed no sign of change since yesterday. The steel nail in the tap water showed more signs of surface rust, about 50% of the outside covered with it. The water near the nail was a deep rust color, and there were these little rust colored specks all over the bottom of the jar. The keratin nail in the water showed no changes.
The steel nail in the Cherry Coke showed some signs of a slight corrosion on about 1/8 of the shaft of the nail. It was only evident on one side of the nail, and I'm not sure whether this was the side of the nail that was in contact with the glass jar or not.
I will check on the progress at 2100 hours tomorrow.
December 17, 2003
At 2230 hours (73.5 hours after starting the experiment) the nails in each jar were photographed, examined with the 8x loupe and compared to the control samples and the notes made at the start of the experiment and after 24 and 48 hours.
Both the steel nails and the keratin nails from the Coke, Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper showed no signs of change, other than the darker color seen the past two days. The Diet Coke steel nail seems to be lighter than the other cola nails, but it is still darker than the control nail. The Sprite liquid has turned a slightly green/yellow color, and the keratin nail shows a slightly green/yellow tint. The steel nail in the Sprite looks dull, but otherwise, unchanged. The steel nail in the tap water showed more signs of surface rust, about 75% of the outside covered with it, but there is a section that has no rust, again, I assume this is where the nail is in contact with the glass. The water near the nail was a deep rust color, and there were these little rust colored specks all over the bottom of the jar. The keratin nail in the water sports a rust colored hue, but otherwise, appears unchanged.
The steel nail in the Cherry Coke does not show the signs of the slight corrosion mentioned yesterday, and looks very similar to the other cola nails.
I will check on the progress at 2100 hours tomorrow.
December 18, 2003
At 2330 hours (98.5 hours after starting the experiment) the nails in each jar were photographed, examined with the 8x loupe and compared to the control samples and the notes made at the start of the experiment and after 24, 48, and 73.5 hours.
This is the official end of the experiment since the e-mail said the nail would disolve in Coke after four days. It has been four days plus 2.5 hours since the experiment began.
The keratin nails from all of the soda's showed no ill effects. They did turn the color of the soda and were soft, like after you take a shower, but overall, they were unaffected.
The steel nail results are as follows:
| Jar | Result |
| 1. Coke | It is dark and rough to the touch. |
| 2. Diet Coke | It is smooth and is rusted on 75% of the shaft. |
| 3. Vanilla Coke | It is smoother and slightly lighter in color than that of the Coke nail. |
| 4. Dr. Pepper | It is smooth and has an even, dark luster througout the nail. Of the cola nails, this one seems to be the most consistant in its feel over the whole nail. |
| 5. Pepsi | It has the same color and touch as the Coke nail. |
| 6. Sprite | It is dull compared to the control nail. Otherwise, unchanged. |
| 7. Cherry Coke | It is slightly darker than the Vanilla Coke nail, but not as dark as the Coke or Pepsi nail. Has a slightly rough touch to it. |
| 8. Water | It has rust over 100% of it. Some patches are darker than others. |
| 9. Control | Nail is shiny and has the same color and touch as a nail straight from the package. |
Now that we know what happens to the outside appearance of the nail, we now need to test its structural strength. The only test I could think of that I could do with my limited resources was to try to hammer each nail into some wood.
The results of the hammer and nail test were the same for each nail. Each nail had no problem being driven into the wood. Each nail took about four hits to be driven halfway into the wood (not including the four times I hit my thumb...the things I do for science!).
Conclusion
As I suspected, no nail of any kind was dissolved by any of the sodas.
At least that entry in the e-mail is false. Perhaps I should tackle some of the other entries...
Bibliography
The Coca-Cola Company
http://www.coca-cola.com/
Science Is Fun in the Lab of Shakhashiri - Chemical of the Week - Phosphoric Acid
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/H3PO4/H3PO4.html
Gondar Design Science - Acids and alkalis -- the pH scale
http://www.purchon.com/chemistry/ph.htm
Not nails! Try teeth. Get the kids baby teeth or extracted wisdom teeth and try your experiment again!
Thanks for the detailed notes! I was going to try this for a fun science experiment in my 5th grade class, but after reading this and other info I see it doesn’t really work! Though it might be good for kids to see you can’t believe everything you get in an email… 
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! THANKS!! I’m so sick of people telling me coke will dissolve a nail. You are awesome! Great project as well!!
Hi,
From what I understand it is necessary to use iron nails without a coating. Nearly impossible to find in hardware stores today. Need to find iron from another source.
Great job! I am tired of email hoaxes and the way people start forwarding it. It is almost like propaganda war against corporates
any chem student knows that a distinguishing property of acids, bases and their salts is that
THEY IONIZE(neutralize-move toward pH 7) IN THE PRESENCE OF H2O, which probably makes up 99.99% of coca cola.
Going to try this with my class. We are studying logic and they need to know that you can’t believe everything your read.
I may not be the best source if you are studying logic.
I am doing this for my 8th grade Science Fair and I already have my report due tomorrow so it is too late to turn back now, but I wish I would have known this earlier to prove that Coke can NOT dissolve a nail!
wow dude, i never expected someoned get so pd off with bs emails theyd prove them wrong, but anyway… POWER TO THE MYTH KILLERS!!!
This is what happens when you have too much free time.
well you know my class did it and it didn’t work so why did you lie and say it would work!!! How rude of you to lie to us..OH MY GOSH
“...Based on elementary school English, the subject of the first sentence is phosphoric acid…“
Based on elementary school English, the way to form the possessive of “it” is “its,“ not “it’s.“ “It’s” is a contraction for “it is.“ Thus:
“It’s easy to see that the defining characteristic of Coke is not its ability to dissolve a nail.“
Don’t forget about “it has”.
That’s what happens when you attempt to write English while watching SportsCenter. Thanks for the reminder. It’s been a while since I’ve taken elementary school English.
i have a mother in law who dont belive dirt coke can be that bad for you i would like to know if dirt coke can rust a nail what could it do to ur tummy? she drinks dirt coke everyday all day.
gerherherhweh tgnrty
Goisudiusm iusdmfp asdiuqnfm. Yahsihdoi qweurand.
that was a cool expiriment i loved it but i thought it would work
i loved your expiriment but i thought it was kind of easy i mean you just put a nail in coke. SO HARD!!!
Wha…? What did you say. On the other hand, great project! I’m going to do it for my science fair project. (See if coke can dissolve a nail if given enough time, that is) Thanks!
I’m doing this experiment (except that i am only using coke) for my science fair ,i started this 1 month ago and the nails all have dissolved at least .1 gram It’s not much but it is disolvation.
Whether or not Coke dissolves a nail is not the only consideration. We live in an overweight, unhealthy, sedentary society, and in no way does Coke help.
Cars and television don’t help either, but I’m only testing whether it can dissolve a nail, not trying to save society in general.
There is also the medical claim wandering around that the phosphoric acid will contribute to decalcification of your bones.
Since I’ve never eaten nails I have little concern about the effect of coke on them tho. Salt kills slugs but not being a slug,I still salt my food. Had your results been different I would probably avoid washing the frame of my house with coke…
Based on the your results I will avoid NY water. No doubt it will rust the iron in my blood. Although since rust is oxidation of iron, and hemoglobin is supposed to suck up oxygen, perhaps this would be a good thing.
Decisions, decisions…..
(a pity vanilla coke seems to have disappeared…
good one josh, I agree, but coca cola can have a negative effect on you also, especially diet coke because of the aspertame in it, aspertame is used in many weight gain formulas and makes you crave more, and in drinking more it adds more calories, then there’s to many calories, then you get fat!!!
really?? oww. how i wish you would also try to have some sort of experimentation when it comes to sugar in coke… i was just wondering if maybe we can have some recommendation of ingredients that is good for the teeth and can be mix with the other ingredients in coke.
There seems to be Nazi-like intellectuals who post on this site…“calm down”.
Cool experiment, did it with my 7th graders last spring and came up with the same results
hi i am doing homework on a similar topic. when did the coke melt the nail? i dont feel like reading that much
thank you! i’ve been reading so many websites with the nail dissolving a coke thing! you rock!
i did this with a large steel nail, uncoated, with a full glass of Coke.
dissolved in less than 5 days. coated nails today are specifically designed to withstand any and all corrosives so if the nail corroded at all than that is saying something. you should have been more thorough in the properties of the nails. i also poured can of Coke into a cast iron pan and it melted a hole in the pan in ten days. if you had used broader parameters your results would have been more conclusive. in short you half assed it.
try again and make it a two week undertaking.
oh, bottom line is the health implications as well as cosmetic implications of drinking soda, in this case coke, lead one to undeniably determine that if you are going to drink Coke it should be in small amounts and not the bucket sized cups one finds at the 7/11. my dad and his brother (my uncle) drank coke religiously and lost most of their teeth by age 45… this is fact in indesputable truth. and they brushed 2 to 3 times a day.
choose your poison wisely…
Damian,
Let me call your attention to the key sentence from the original e-mail that started me on this project:
“It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.“
It does not describe the type of nail that is needed, but it definitely puts the amount of time at “about 4 days” (however definite that can be). This experiment was the test the veracity of that statement, not how long it takes to dissolve things in Coke in general.
I think you’ll find that Coke will dissolve a lot of things left it in in two weeks.
Also, no one can make an accurate statement that the Coke was responsible for your relative’s teeth decay because there are an enormous amount of other factors that need to be considered. It’s sort of like the study that says that one glass of wine a day is good for you because they looked at people who drink one glass of wine per day and found them to be quite healthy. It’s the overall lifestyle that needs to be looked at. People who drink a glass of wine a day are probably healthier in general because they can afford to eat well, are educated, have access to better medicine, etc.
My goal with this experiment was not to figure out whether Coke was good for you or not. That is for people smarter than myself to work on.
maybe you used galvanized nails—they don’t corrode
heyy, im doing this project with my partner Savina and i was woundering why the hell did you put toe nails in your coke substace? thats just weird.. did it help? i doubt it. . .
anyways, im going to actually try to completly get rid of the nail by keeping it in the coke for 2 weeks. 4 days is nothing? it got rusty? WOW
You are so smart. Thank you!
Thanks man this was hella helpfull I was doing a science expirement in my eightth grade science class and Now people at my school will finally know what there putting inside there bodies
I always thought that a nail would disolve in coke but i guess not.This will bw my topik 4 the science faire at my school if a nail disolves in coke. I will do a teast like yours and see if what i get was like youres.
It will dissolve in a couple of minutes. the coke is too harmful for the human body. The coke will eat all of your insides and maybe go to the brain. the coke is not a dependale drink for your everyday life!
thanks for the experiment!!!!!!!!! I got a different result, though. Well that may be becauce I used concen trated coke. oh well. Thanks anyway
well, i was reading other websites and they said that you have to seal it air tight or else the coke will become just black sugar water that tastes awful.
Can coke disolve a piece of meat in 2 days?
I say you try to put a fingernail in coke. That’s what I think could possibly work. That’s pretty gross as well… I wonder if you have to keep putting new coke in the bottle for it to work? Wouldn’t the first days coke stop working?
i am doing a science expriment to see if coke can take the rust off a nail if it does i won’t be suprised
I’m doing my science fair project in 6th grade on what liquids will affect a chicken bone the most in two or so months. I think it will be coka-cola because my friend’s science teacher was talking abotu it to her. I also think that vinigar, tap water, and one more type of soda should also be tested in the experiemnt to be able to see which of the four liquids affect it the most.
this is a good project so now i know what im drinking and belive me ill never drink it again even though it didnt work mabye ill do jake’s experiment
cool!!!!
im doing the experement for my sience project…peace out rock on!!!!!
You have to use an “ungalvanized” nail you can get them at home depot and they will dissolve…
Your experiment and people’s comments are interesting. I might need to conduct an experiment to find out if there is a cause and effect between two variables for a college class I am in.
you suck i dont get yhe point of this you bastard
Beside getting addicted to Coke ... I doubt it will stay in your stomach long enough for hater’s to cry about drinking it….after all It would have been removed off the shelves by now if it was doing all the damages people claim it was doing or at least force to place a “WARNING: SIDE EFFECTS” ..something.. other than that .. although nice experiment and as for the toe nails I’m not sure I’ll be able to drink coke without thinking of that *OFFICIALLY TRAUMATIZED* on a lighter note toe nails ... could represent the ill effects of coke on bones HA HA J/K
“DRINK COKE .. PLAY AGAIN”
if coke was that dangerous then 99% of people wouldn’t be having anything in their stomachs or mouths. i think coke affects slowly and one wont notice it in their lifetime
Damian, did your relatives eat carrots? Must have been the carrots that rotted their teeth. My brother is a dentist, and every patient with tooth decay has eaten carrots.
The carrot lobby gives so much $ to congress that the issue is ignored.
Gee, I’d better tell the guys down at Carter Lumber to get the coke machine away from the Power Pak nails.
<sarcasm>Oh crap! I eat carrots all the time. I’d better stop.</sarcasm>
That reminds me of the time that I asked the guy at my local fish store how I can avoid disease in my tank. He told me to make sure I had no dihydrogen oxide in my tank and that would fix things. Took me about 10 minutes to get the joke.
i hate science fair projects But man nail dissolving in coke i actually like this project. nails in the coke weird man ..............................................
u just helpedme with my science report alot thankx!!!
iam helping my daughter who is in gr5 is doing this projected with a penny and a nail we have coke diet coke pepsi and sprite we had it in for a week 3 days they are is becoming rusty but that all and the penny if they were dirty old looking it now clean and the sprite is slower result but it the same so we are take them out next week so we’ll see what happen soon thanks for the extra question what happens when your project fails
zach blahnik’s an idiot and his comment was stupid,(about #18 down) the purpose was not to conduct a difficult experiment, it was to see if the email was accurate in saying a soft drink could dissolve a nail. Josh even included many other drinks and objects to rule out almost any possibility of confusion. Great work Josh, very informative experiment.
To edit my comment above, the experiment was to see if coke would dissolve a nail in under 4 days, which clearly it did not.
Hey nice project! i did the same one for my science fair (not as organized) i had the same results tho.
ps: i accidently left the nails in the open air for 4 days and the steel nail dissovled!
try it if u like.!
i do it in mys cince fair
u r weird. will u go out with me?
I only date women that spell out words in proper English. Sorry.
hey can you have the procedures listed so i can see what to do thnks
cool thanx
Do you think coke would destroy a penny?
damien,
i have a question about your experiment, will you leave it in open air or in a closed jar? also, in how many days can it dissolve meat?
thanks a lot!!
Grrr you. My mum and I were just arguing about this (I don’t drink pop, she does), and I was trying to prove a point. And your experiment killed it.
Oh, and if you still have that forward, would you send it to me? Even if it’s not true, it can’t hurt to scare my friends away from sugary drinks.
this is a very good home made idea.whose popular for learn children that coke is not good for health.
Haha! My friends and I always argue about this! Heh Heh! I was right all along!
p.s. I laughed at what you said to lovely lady! Woo hoo! I am also strongly against acronyms! Go proper English! Woot woot!
AWESOME…...A genuine Mythbuster…..you should be on the show…..exactly what i neede to give proof to my naturopath friend who is desperately trying to get me off diet coke.
thanks
I have always heard this but have been skeptical for one reason - if Coke supposedly eats through metal, how is it stored in cans?
to you guys that think people are dumb for drinking COKE well just to let you know i think that it is the best and i realy enjoy it like they say i think people just need to enjoy life and stop trying to control every thing that they dont like so leave us alone and let us enjoy coke
Thanks for doing this. As a respiratory therapist I always thought it might have been the co2 in the soda that caused the rusting but not to any great extent. I do know oxygen and what it can do to metal so the plain water could act as a catilist for oxidisation. The caramel flavoring in the sodas probably just helped to protect the nails from oxidising. thanks again
I tryed the experiment and the nails dessolved just kiddin they rustd and everything but i did if for my science fair and i ot 387 out of 400 awsome
try pennies next time…i need to know what happens 2 pennies in SODA!!!!!!
Thank you so much! This article has given me a lot of information I needed for my school project. 
Tried the experiment over a week for with my son for his school project. He was expecting a shiney new nail at the end of it…
Our test result was the same as yours. I’m abit gutted now, as I have to tell him it isn’t what he was hoping for. Might have to think of something else to do for him….. Where is CSI when you need them!!
The coke that is smoked might work!
I wonder how long it takes for Coke to corrode your stomach lining? Now There’s an Experiment…
Love the Site, Keep up the Great Work
ps. Did you go to Penn State? Hence the Blue Paw Icon ????
awesome dude, thanx xD
Josh: Thanks for this experiment done a few years ago. Unfortunately, this email keeps showing up today. I never believed it. Could you check into the “coke syrup” thing about hazmat?
hey if coke can dissolve a nail or rust it why doesnt it do anything to the aluminum can that it is in besides it can stay in that can for while???????
I think they coat the inside of the cans with a kind of varnish to prevent the coke reacting with the aluminum and ruining the taste.
I’m glad someone is testing out these widely-circulated internet claims. I understand that the purpose of your experiment was to test the veracity of the statement “It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.“ However, I think the experiment would have been more conclusive if you had weighed the nails and that it would have been more interesting if you had determined just how long it takes for a nail to dissolve in coke (if at all). Just some thoughts. I’m glad someone is taking the time to experiment!
hey thanks a lot u helped me with my science fair project
I’m very glad I came across your site! I have heard this story for years, and thought of how rediculous it sounded. I actually was considering doing an experiment myself, until I came across your site.
Diet Coke disolving a nail always sounded like bunk to me. Thanks again!
try meat
This is the best ever. Ithelped alot.
Wow, you sure have gotten a lot of mileage out this. I would like to commend you on a very scientific experiment, well done!
I was kind of hoping something would happen to the nail, I’ve heard it can act as a solvent on dirty engine parts but was somewhat skeptical.
WELL I WAS THINKING THAT…. IF THE COKE WAS PUT INTO CUPS.. WOULDNT IT GO FLAT, AND HAVE A DIFFERENT AFFECT AS WELL…. THE TEST SHOULD BE DONE IN A ALUMINUM CAN OF COKE… AND SEE IF THAT WOULD WORK… I HEARD THATS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE TESTED. IM NOT SURE ABOUT A BOTTLE EITHER???
I think the thing would help this is repeatability. We need to donate money so Josh
can widen his study to include ALL (available)
nails.
Suggestions:
Include predefined temperature ranges such as:
refrigerator temp, ambient room temp and
coffee warmer temp.
Have a set of nails unmodified and a set that
has been sanded or scored (for coating removal).
Observe the different qualities of rust in the
process. (Aluminium=white powdery, Copper=green
color, Iron=Red, rough etc…).
You will all have to do this homework. Pass in
the results to Josh after the holidays. He will
evaluate your data and compare it to his
studies. Your grade will depend on how
detailed your work is and how much money you
donate. Besides, the money will go to further
things that Josh can do for fun. *8^)
From the office of:
Dr. Fine
Dr. Howard
Dr. Fine
(Doctors of studying something)
how long does it take to clean an dirty penny in cola-cola
well, i gotta do a science fair project for school. my experiment is: does type of soda affect chow fast meat dissolves? im having trouble with it and i have heard many rummors. would you help me please. the soda i am using are coca-cola, diet coke, and cafine free diet coke. now i know that coca-cola will make it dissolve the fastest…but my question for you is why?
i dont understand thiss at alll!!!
can u use it with a chicken bine instead of a nail???
comment back plz.
hi, i thought it was supposed to be about what nail rusted the most lol but this was good it is cuz i am doign an expiremant on it too byee
i researched this and i’m doing something simular 4 my science project. im gonna dissolve an iron nail in 3 types of soft drinks 1 being coke, 1 bein sprite n 1 being orange jiuce. orange juice and coke suposevely have alot of acid in them and scince sprite is a soft drink im assuming the same. but it has 2 be with a NON COATED IRON nail 4 this experiment 2 work. u can also dissolve a peice of meat, a penny, a tooth n probably alot of other stuff. i no that the iron nail should take about 4 days and im not sure about the meat, but the tooth probably takes a while. well that’s it i guess. i just wanted 2 let u no that its a NON COATED IRON NAIL, NOT a steel nail. lol wow this messege sounds so ......grammered n stuff, im so crazy n dont talk like that thatz y i think its funny lol <(^_^)>, k well c ya!( o n remember iron nail cuz steel wont work)
hi i need more information on this coke experiment im doing this for science fair
please help me out
omg! i love this! i need a project for my science class..this is perfect! thank you so much! it is fun and fast! well thanks agian!
:B
we are doing this as a science fair experiment and we would like to know if it will acually work?
thanks
that was a really cool project!
you are really smart!
Thanks Jaimie. Coming from your, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
thanks for the awsome project
hey your project is sweet and where doing some thing like it but do any of u guys know it sugar really takes the rust off of a metal nail?
(->.<-) later and noah likes u
i dont care what you guize say im doing the project too see went my own eyes.
mmmmkayyyy.
you could use deer teeth i did and hand the same results(and an ‘A’ in creativity from my teacher)
YOUR PROBLEM IS SIMPLE. THE TRUTH OF THE FACT IS THAT THE COKE, PEPSI…HAVE TO HAVE THEIR LIDS ON TIGHTLY BECAUSE IT IS MAINLY THE SHEER FACT THAT THE DRINKS HAVE TO BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE IS THE PRESENCE OF CARBONIC ACID WHICH IS INSIDE THOSE SOFT DRINKS. THEREFORE TRY TO DO THE EXPERIMENT ONCE MORE AND THIS TIME TIGHTEN THE LIDS.
THANK YOU
im doing can a penny disolve in a can of coke for my science fair project. yours is cool though…
This is a really cool idea!!!
hey josh me and my class are doing the science experiment to our nail is not diiolving yet
I’m doing an experiment with Coke for my Science Fair. I put a paperclip in Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero. It has been 8 days, and only the outer layer of the paperclip has dissolved, not much else other than that. My friend is putting his own fingernail in Coke, and he is certain it will dissolve in 4 days. I told him it wouldn’t, but he won’t listen to me. I guess he’s going to have to learn for himself…
cool project i am doing it for a science fair experiment
I was just wondering if the original email that you responded to specified if they used coated or uncoated nails in their experiment?
So gay with the toe nail thing like seriously OMIG ];(
next time, if there is any, you should chart the wieght of the nail over time.
I’m doing a project to see if Coca Cola can dissolve a styrofoam cup, a nail and a tooth. In 1 day the tooth was brown and disintgrating and the nail was turning rusty.
Josh,
Thank you so much for this study. I had an arrogant co-worker (the ones who like to forward every chain email they get to you) who claimed the same statements made in the bogus email. After reading this experiment, I printed it and went into his office. Once there, I proceeded to smash him in the face with it and things got a little out of control. Needless to say, I was fired.
I’m writing you from the Minnesota State Penitentiary, where I am serving 6 months for Aggravated Assault with a Science Experiment, but I want you to know that everything is okay and I do not blame you or your study for my incarceration.
Thanks again!
Prisoner 4328: Thanks for not blaming me. Just to let you know that while you’ve been inside, I’ve moved. I’m now living in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in case you wanted to look me up after you get out.
hey question how old are you josh?
thats “cool"I am impressed
This will be a cool science fair project!!!thanks!
Hey i just wanted to thank you for the great experiment. I loved it and it does not smell. Thank God! Lol! So thank you lots!
Im doing it for my science fair so we will see.
this expeermint is cool!
I’m going to try the penny & I’ll update you with the results.
Hi,
Someone should try this out: Place Nutrasweet in an area of your kitchen that has ants. After 3 - 6 months the ants will die. Neurotoxins tend to do this
can anny one tell me why it dose what it dose????? plz
Try it on your stove.
try a tooth or a finger nail
Crikey! Two years later and the comments still come in!
master3000, you really should have studied the experiment. Both steel nails and finger nails (keratin) were used as subjects in Josh’ experiment.
In respect to teeth, I once used one of my daughters ‘milk’ teeth to see if cola did indeed dissolve teeth. I left the tooth in Coke for three days (then got harassed by daughter because the Tooth Fairy wouldn’t go near the Coke and she wasn’t getting paid), but saw no visual signs of corrosion. Further studies should be conducted to verify my findings…Who’s got time?
wow…
i tried this project for science and it really does work!!!
i got an “A” and i’m so happy..
Thanks!!
Josh,
Thanks for the information on the Coke project. It was funny because I am doing it now to but I have a feeling it will end up the same way. Plus it was interesting to see how many people accually tried to prove that E-Mail wrong.
Actually I did that thing with a tooth on Pepsi. After a week, its external consistency was very much like bubble gum. One of the students gave up drinking cola. 
i like you website and nice job on the coke experiment
wooooooooooooooooow!
As previously stated, you must use an uncoated iron nail. The iron reacts with the acid, so the iron cannot be coated.
Also, aluminum cans (and foil, for that matter) are coated with wax or other coatings so they do not react with things such as acidic soft drinks.
Galvanized nails are coated with zinc, a less reactive metal.
I did an experient with rusting nails:
“Which liquid rust the nails the most”
Out of the 4 liquids I used: vinegar, COKE, V (energy drink)and water, water was the only liquid which rusted the iron nails.
This was because when I set up the experiment, I submerged the whole nail under the liquid therefore depriving it from oxygen. Without oxygen no rust will occur.
It was pretty much a test for the liquid with the most oxygen.
To do the test correctly, I should’ve sprayed or dripped the nails.
The nail in coke had white spots on the nail and on the surface of the coke.
You have created an interezante forum brings tail over of this topic of the coca I will repeat the experiment but using chunks of common iron.
@nameless chicken,
they weren’t coated, the nail in water rusted
You are a hoot!
The nails in the coke were probably coated in a very thin surface layer of iron phosphate, this protects them against further oxydation by forming a sealing layer.
Keratin would hydrolyse if left long enough (several thousand years) but is otherwise too compact to be very susceptible to the acid. Why do you think your hair and nails are composed of the stuff?
Teeth on the other hand consist of Ca5(PO4)3(OH) (called Hydroxylapatite) which is very susceptible to corrosion by phosphoric acid by degrading to form calcium(H2PO4)2 and other soluble products which dissolve.
The nails placed in Coke probably showed no trace of rust because they were kept clean by the mild acid. I work in the automotive industry and most steel components are put through an acid bath before they are e-coated to remove traces of rust from the part.
A guy that lived down the street from me when I was growing up once had a party at his house when his parents were away… a 4-day party. A nosey neighbour went in to the house the morning after cops out an end to it. Apparently someone had thrown up in a plastic tray on top of a buffet and the stomach acid had caushed the tray to melt to it.
If the juices in my stomach are capable of doing something as awesome as that… I raise a can of Coke to it in its honour.
Wow, thank goodness i found this website. I’m in Year 10 in a school in Sydney, Australia.
I was recommended to do the usual iron in a cup of bottled water/salt water/tap water for five days, but now i think i’ll add in Coke (cola-cola) to also add in my hypothesis and the Statement/s connecting the experiment and the hypothesis.
Thank you!! ^_^
This is cool! Although the toe nail thing is kinda weird, but i didn’t use that. I did use the rest of the project for a science fair.
It didn’t say that coke will dissolve a nail he said that pH 2.8 will dissolve a nail in 4 days the cokes ingredients most likely overpower the pH. xXx(:
that was so awesome to know that I’m doing my sixth grade experiment about coke to so thanks for the help
gee thx alot it really helped me with my experiment i am doing like the same thing but not thx
i think this what im doin for my science fair projects!!
