Elephant toothpaste is actually the product of a fun science experiment that you can do at home with your kids or with students in the lab. It is the result of a chemical reaction that generates a large amount of foam. The movement of the foam is similar to that of toothpaste when squeezed out of the tube and the quantity is so abundant that it can brush an elephant's teeth.
Remember that concentrated hydrogen peroxide (well beyond normal 3% hydrogen peroxide) is a very powerful oxidant. It can discolor the skin and even cause burns. Do not attempt this experiment without protection and without adult supervision. Have fun, but safely!
Ingrediants
Housewife version
- 120ml 20-volume hydrogen peroxide (this is a 6% solution available at beauty shops or hairdressers)
- 15 g of dry yeast
- 45 ml of hot water
- Liquid dish soap
- Food coloring
- Bottles of any shape
Laboratory version
- Food coloring (optional)
- Liquid soap
- 30% hydrogen peroxide (H.2OR2)
- Saturated solution of potassium iodide (KI)
- 1 l graduated cylinder
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing for the Experiment
Step 1. Search home for available materials
You don't have to have all the specific equipment of a laboratory to perform this fun experiment, as most of the equipment is in the house. Make a list of what you have available and see if you can improvise what you are missing. For example, if you can't get 6% hydrogen peroxide, you can use 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Step 2. Allow enough time to prepare the experiment, run it, and finally clean up
Remember that it will be unavoidable to soil your surroundings, so inform everyone involved that they will have to do their part of cleaning. Let everyone participate and enjoy the experiment.
Step 3. Mark the area
Overflowing foam experiments are fun for all ages, but small children can easily get carried away with enthusiasm. Regardless of whether you have decided to manage the chemical reaction in the bathtub, in the garden, or to use a large plastic bucket or baking dish, try to reduce the amount of work needed to clean by delimiting the area.
Step 4. Get the proper amount of hydrogen peroxide
This ingredient determines the amount of foam that will be generated. While you are likely to have 3% hydrogen peroxide in your bathroom cabinet, you should go to a beauty shop to get 6% hydrogen peroxide, as it is not always available in supermarkets or pharmacies. 6% hydrogen peroxide is used as a lightener.
Part 2 of 3: Run the Experiment
Step 1. Mix 45ml of water with the yeast and let it sit
You can allow the children to take care of this step. Ask them to measure out the yeast and mix it with the correct amount of water. Let the smaller one take care of mixing the mixture to get rid of any lumps.
Depending on the age of the child, you can give him a plastic spoon or other stirring tool. You can also make him wear goggles and a lab coat. Child safety glasses are available in hardware stores
Step 2. Pour the dish soap, food coloring and 120ml hydrogen peroxide into a bottle
Make sure all participants wear protective gloves and goggles before handling hydrogen peroxide. Do not allow children to touch this substance unless they are old enough.
- If your child is too young, just allow them to spray some dye and soap into the bottle. To make the experiment even more fun you can add glitter. Make sure the glitter is plastic and not metal-based, as this material does not have to combine with hydrogen peroxide.
- Mix the mixture yourself or ask a fairly grown child to do it. Make sure the hydrogen peroxide does not overflow.
Step 3. Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle using a funnel
Take a quick step back and remove the funnel. You can let your baby do this, but if he is too small, keep him at a safe distance to make sure the contents of the bottle don't splash on him. Choose a shallow bottle, but with a wide base to ensure adequate container stability. The neck must be tightened for a better scenic effect.
- The fungi contained in the yeast will immediately decompose the hydrogen peroxide which will release the extra oxygen molecules. Yeast works as a catalyst that causes hydrogen peroxide molecules to release oxygen molecules. These oxygen molecules are in gaseous form and when they come into contact with the soap they create a dense foam, while what remains of the hydrogen peroxide is just water. The gas will seek a way out and the frothy "toothpaste" will gush out of the bottle.
- For a nice effect, make sure the yeast and hydrogen peroxide are well mixed.
Step 4. Change the bottle size
If you choose a smaller container with a narrow opening, then the foam will overflow more powerfully. Experiment with bottles of different shapes to find the one that guarantees a better scenic effect.
With a regular bottle of soda and 3% hydrogen peroxide you will probably get a cascading effect similar to that of chocolate fountains
Step 5. Feel the heat
Notice how the foam gives off heat. The chemical reaction is called exothermic because it releases energy in the form of heat. However, the temperature is insufficient to create any damage, so you can touch and mess with the foam without danger. The foam consists of only water, soap and oxygen and is non-toxic.
Step 6. Clean
Use a sponge to clean the area and pour the remaining liquid down the drain. If you used glitter, filter it and throw it in the trash before disposing of the liquid.
Part 3 of 3: Adapting the Experiment to a Laboratory
Step 1. Put on protective gloves and goggles
The concentrated hydrogen peroxide used in this experiment can burn the skin and eyes. It can also discolor fabrics, so choose clothes you don't mind ruining.
Step 2. Pour 50ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide into a 1L graduated cylinder
This is a much more aggressive product than the usual hydrogen peroxide for domestic use, so handle it carefully and check that the cylinder is resting on a solid surface.
Step 3. Add three drops of food coloring
Make several attempts with color to make the experiment fun. Create different color schemes and shades. To make the foam appear streaked, tilt the graduated cylinder and run the dye along the inside walls.
Step 4. Pour about 40ml of dishwashing liquid and shake the container to blend the mixture
Create a small layer of soap by pouring it along the inside walls of the cylinder. You can also use the powder, but you need to make sure you dissolve it thoroughly.
Step 5. Add potassium iodide to the solution and back off quickly
To do this, use a spatula and drop the potassium iodide into the cylinder to trigger the chemical reaction. You can also pre-dissolve it with water in a vial before pouring it into the solution. A colored foam will begin to come out of the cylinder.
Step 6. Check for oxygen
Place a freshly-extinguished wooden match near the foam and watch how it catches fire thanks to the oxygen released by the foam itself.
Step 7. Clean
Discard any remaining solution down the drain using plenty of water. Make sure that all matches are perfectly extinguished and that there are no open flames. Close and store the containers of hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide.
Advice
- You may find that the reaction produces heat. This is because it is an exothermic chemical process, that is, it releases energy.
- When you throw away the elephant's toothpaste, wear gloves. You can throw both foam and liquid down the drain.
- Over time, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) breaks down naturally into water and oxygen. However, you can speed up the process by adding a catalyst. Since hydrogen peroxide releases a lot of oxygen when it comes into contact with the cleaner, millions of tiny bubbles will quickly form.
Warnings
- The substance resulting from the reaction is called "elephant toothpaste" only because of its appearance. Do not put it in your mouth or swallow it.
- The foam will overflow suddenly and quickly, especially in the chemistry lab version. Remember to perform the experiment on a washable, stain-resistant surface and do not stand near the bottle or cylinder while it foams.
- Elephant toothpaste stains!
- You cannot safely run the experiment without gloves and goggles.
