Ahmad's Science Club: Elephant Toothpaste
Time for another day of fun chemistry experiments you can do at home!
Here are the ingredients you will need to make a smaller version of Elephant Toothpaste.
- 1 packet of active dry yeast (NOT the fast acting type)
- 1/3rd cup of 6% hydrogen peroxide (available at a beauty supply store)
- 1 tablespoon of dish soap
- 3 tablespoons of warm water (NOT hot, that would kill off the yeast)
- Food coloring
- 12-16 oz plastic bottle (Wash it out first)
- Small cup
- Safety goggles and gloves
Here is how this works.
First, put down some cardboard or newspaper on the table so the foam doesn't get on it once the experiment is complete.
Next place the dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and food coloring in the plastic bottle and give it a little swish to mix it. 4 drops should work for the food coloring.
Follow this up by mixing the yeast and warm water together in the cup and thoroughly mix it together for 30 seconds to activate the yeast.
Remember, make sure the water is lukewarm and not hot.
Now it's time to put it all together! Pour the water/yeast mixture in to the bottle and watch it foam!
It should turn quickly in to a paste looking foam.
Hold your hand over the foam and lightly touch the bottle.
Can you feel the warmth?
The process of mixing the yeast in with the peroxide causes a reaction that removes the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide.
That process is exothermic, which means it gives off heat.
The foam is created because every bubble is full of pure oxygen, and there is a lot of oxygen released from this process!