Warning: carbonated water may explode if you add granules into it

I may not be the first person to encounter this, but I still think it is worth writing because it caused a huge mess.

Today, I tried adding sweeteners in granule form (Erythritol and Monk fruit extract) after water was carbonated because I remember that the manual stated not to carbonate anything other than plain water.

What happened next? The water erupted as if you dropped Mentos into Coke.

After searching online and consulting with my friend who has a Ph.D. in chemistry, I learned this is caused by a process called "nucleation." Essentially, this happens when you add ANY kind of granules into carbonated water - the tiny rough surfaces of the granules allow bubbles to rapidly form and escape. I tested it with salt and pepper in the bathtub, and they also exploded as expected.

The solution: Dissolve sweeteners or any other granules into a syrup first, then add the liquid syrup to the carbonated water.

Hope this saves someone else from an unexpected kitchen fountain!