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Elephant Toothpaste

This document describes a science experiment to create a giant foaming reaction using hydrogen peroxide, yeast, and dish soap. When yeast is mixed with hydrogen peroxide, it acts as a catalyst to rapidly break down the peroxide into oxygen gas and water. The oxygen forms bubbles that are trapped by dish soap to create lots of foam. Performing this experiment in a plastic bottle allows the foam to resemble a giant tube of toothpaste being squeezed. Proper safety equipment should be worn as hydrogen peroxide can irritate eyes.

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RobinGinting
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187 views3 pages

Elephant Toothpaste

This document describes a science experiment to create a giant foaming reaction using hydrogen peroxide, yeast, and dish soap. When yeast is mixed with hydrogen peroxide, it acts as a catalyst to rapidly break down the peroxide into oxygen gas and water. The oxygen forms bubbles that are trapped by dish soap to create lots of foam. Performing this experiment in a plastic bottle allows the foam to resemble a giant tube of toothpaste being squeezed. Proper safety equipment should be worn as hydrogen peroxide can irritate eyes.

Uploaded by

RobinGinting
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction

Create a giant foaming reaction, and use science to wow your friends with this
classic activity. With just a few ingredients you can make something that looks
like foamy toothpaste being squeezed from a tube—but so big that it looks
almost fit for an elephant!
Background
You might be familiar with hydrogen peroxide as an antiseptic used to clean
cuts and scrapes, which it does by killing bacteria. But what is it? It is a liquid
made from hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms (its chemical formula is H2O2).
It is available in different strengths, or concentrations. You usually find it in a
3 percent concentration (although higher concentrations are available, they
are more dangerous and must be handled carefully). It also breaks down when
exposed to light, which is why it usually comes in dark brown bottles.

When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it turns into oxygen (O2) and water
(H2O). Normally this breakdown happens very slowly. But you can make that
reaction happen faster! How? By adding a catalyst. Yeast is an organism that
contains a special chemical called catalase that can act as a catalyst to help
break down hydrogen peroxide. Catalase is present in almost all living things
that are exposed to oxygen, and it helps them break down naturally occurring
hydrogen peroxide.

This means that if you mix yeast with hydrogen peroxide, the hydrogen
peroxide will rapidly break down into water and oxygen gas. The oxygen gas
forms bubbles. These bubbles would usually escape from the liquid and pop
quickly. But adding a little dish soap provides additional surface tension,
allowing the bubbles to get trapped and creating lots of foam. This foam looks
like a giant squeeze of toothpaste—almost big enough for an elephant!
Materials
 Empty plastic bottle
 Dry yeast (found in the baking section of the grocery store)
 Warm water
 Liquid dish soap
 3% hydrogen peroxide
 Measuring cups
 Measuring spoons
 Safety glasses
 Large tub or tray to catch the foam
 Location for the activity that can tolerate spills (of hydrogen peroxide as well
as possibly food coloring), such as a kitchen or bathroom—or an outdoor
location
 Liquid food coloring (optional)
 Different-shaped bottles or glasses (optional)
Preparation
 Put on your safety glasses to do this activity because hydrogen peroxide can
irritate your eyes. (Note: although the product of this activity resembles
toothpaste, it is not toothpaste, so do not attempt to use it!)
 Gather your materials in the location where you plan to do your activity. Place
your plastic bottle on the tray or tub so that it is easy to clean up all the foam.

 Measure 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and carefully pour it into the bottle.
 Add a big squirt of dish soap into the bottle, and swirl gently to mix.
 If you want to make your foam a single color, add a few drops of food coloring
directly into the hydrogen peroxide, and swirl the bottle gently to mix. If you
want to give your foam stripes like some toothpastes, put the drops along the
inside rim of the bottle’s mouth. Let them drip down the inside of the bottle,
but do not mix.
 In a measuring cup mix together one tablespoon of yeast and three
tablespoons of warm water. Stir for about 30 seconds.
 Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle then quickly step back, and watch your
reaction go! What happens? How long does the reaction last?
 Extra: Try the activity without the dish soap. What happens? How was the
result different?
 Extra: Try the activity with different-shaped containers. What happens if you
use a bottle with a narrower or wider neck—or a cylindrical drinking glass with
no neck?
Observations and results
You probably saw lots of bubbles and foam in this activity. What makes the
foam appear? When the hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with the
yeast it starts breaking down into water and oxygen. Oxygen is a gas and
therefore wants to escape the liquid. The dish soap that you added to your
reaction, however, traps these gas bubbles, forming a foam. The reaction
continues as long as there is some hydrogen peroxide and yeast left. Once one
of them runs out it stops making new foam. If you tried the activity without
dish soap, the reaction probably will still made bubbles—but not foam.
Cleanup
Wash the foam down the sink when you are done with the activity

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