It is more than just nucleation points on the candy.

It isn’t more than nucleation points on the candy. I already provided a source. There are many more. Using a liquid that allows nucleation sites to work better doesn’t make it a chemical reaction.

Suppose you have two liquids with different surface tension and each liquid is mixed with marbles. You pour the liquid through a strainer leaving the marbles behind. The fact that each liquid pours at different rates doesn’t make pouring the liquid a chemical reaction. It’s the same liquid before and after pouring. No chemical reaction has occured.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/04/we-now-know-the-effect-of-altitude-on-classic-diet-coke-and-mentos-fountain/

Mythbusters:

https://youtu.be/LjbJELjLgZg?si=xErbThaPInS-n-VZ