If you put diet coke and regular coke in water, why does the regular coke sink and the diet coke float?

Question

If you put diet coke and regular coke in water, why does the regular coke sink and the diet coke float?

Answer 1

Cola

Cola can be considered as water with some dissolved material. Ordinary cola is, as such, a sugar solution with a few other additives (taste, aroma, colour etc.).

Cola light contains the artificial sweeteners Sucralose and Acesulfame K. Both are far sweeter than table sugar, sucrose (650 times and 180-200 times, respectively, ref. Belitz). Thus, far less sweetener is needed. If we assume that all other ingredients are the same, then far less material is dissolved in the light version. The same total volume with less material --> lower density. Thus: pure cola light would float up in ordinary cola taken that they didn't mix.

Answer 2

Sugar is heavier than Aspartame. Regular coke has sugar. Diet Coke has Aspartame.

Answer 3

Because they shove chemicals down Diet Coke's throat.

Seriously, stay away from diet sodas!

Answer 4

that is  cool i did not know that. but i do know as years of bar tending that the diet foams a lot more than regular coke.that might have something to do with it.good luck .

Answer 5

i need more info, did u put both drinks in the same cup of water? or did u do it separately? and if u did put them in the same cup, how did u know wat was wat??

Answer 6

because Coke is awesome and diet coke is a disgusting lab accident. the only use for diet coke (besides floating it in water) is to use it with mentos. : )

Answer 7

its all about density.  The density of the High Fructose Corn syrup that flavors regular coke is more dense then the artificial sweetner in diet coke.  This density difference make the same volume of regualr coke to be heavier and sink.

Answer 8

who knows. you shouldnt drink coke anyways!!!! it tastes gross!!! and anything that is used to remove rust-isnt goin in my body!

Answer 9

because it's diet, it weighs less :D

as you can guess, i don't know but that's an interesting question.  What does Cherry Coke do?

Answer 10

Dont know but its a brilliant question

Answer 11

2 reasons:

1.  More carbonation in diet coke

2.  Sugar used in regular coke is more dense than the sweetener used for diet

Answer 12

I haven't tried this but I'm guessing because the diet coke is lighter than the regular coke (and the water apparently).