what is the hypothesis of elephant toothpaste

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Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment

Elephant Toothpaste anyone? Although elephants might not be too excited about the idea, your kids will be thrilled with the fun chemical reaction of this super simple science experiment.

With only a few common items that you probably already have at home, kids can see the quick and impressive results of the chemical reaction, feel the heat released from the process, and even play with the “elephant toothpaste” foam afterward.

Below you’ll find detailed and printable instructions, a materials list, a demonstration video, and an easy to understand explanation of why it works!

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

• 2 Tablespoons Warm Water
• 1 Teaspoon Yeast
• Food Coloring
• Hydrogen Peroxide – Either 3% or 6%
• Empty Plastic Bottle

Helpful Tip: You can find the 3% at most stores, but you will need to either go to a Beauty Supply Store or order the 6% online. In the video I perform the experiment two ways. Once using the 3% peroxide and once using the 6%. It is often recommended to use 6% peroxide, but we actually preferred the reaction that happened with the 3% better.

Elephant Toothpaste Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Elephant Toothpaste Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment Instructions

Step 1 –  Combine two tablespoons of warm water with one teaspoon of yeast and mix until the yeast is completely dissolved in the water. 

Step 2 –  Pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle. You’ll see here that we have two bottles. The bottle pictured on the left is being filled with 3% hydrogen peroxide while the bottle pictured on the right is filled with 6% hydrogen peroxide.

Step 3 –  Add a few drops of food coloring into the bottle. Take a moment to make a few observations. What happened when you added the drops of food coloring?

Note: This step is optional, but adding the color adds a fun element to the experiment. You’ll see that we used a different color of food coloring for each bottle. 

Step 4 – Next, add a squirt of dish soap into the bottle. Again, take a moment observe what happened. Did adding the dish soap appear to have any effect on the liquid already in the bottle?

Step 5 – Finally, pour the mixture of water and yeast into the bottle. Watch carefully and observe what happens. 

Helpful Tip: You may need to gently swirl the bottle in order to get the items to completely combine. We had to do that for the 6% hydrogen peroxide.

Sit back and watch what happens. Write down your observations as you watch the experiment. Can you describe what happens when you add the water and yeast mixture to the bottle. If you are using both the 3% and the 6% hydrogen peroxide like we are, is there a difference between what happens? 

Wondering what caused the liquid to react that way? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

Watch the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment Step by Step Instructions Video

How Does the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment Work

This experiment shows a very impressive and fast chemical reaction! Hydrogen peroxide is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O2). In this experiment, yeast is a catalyst that helps release oxygen molecules from the hydrogen peroxide solution.

A catalyst is a material that increases the rate of a reaction without itself being consumed

The release of oxygen molecules in this experiment happens FAST! The foam created in this chemical reaction is made up of very tiny oxygen bubbles. These bubbles result when hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is broken down by the yeast into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2).

During the reaction, feel the bottle. It will feel warm to the touch because it is an exothermic reaction .

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy through light or heat (in this case, heat).

The reaction will continue and foam will be produced until all of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been broken down into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2).

**Have fun playing with the foam after the experiment is over! It is safe to touch because all that foam is just soap, water and oxygen. Let your kids have some fun with the foam too. Just be sure to have a towel handy!

Other Ideas to Try

Try adding more or less yeast when doing the experiment again. How does this affect the amount of foam produced?

Try the experiment again, but change the size of the bottle. How does this affect the amount of foam produced?

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

• Hydrogen Peroxide – Either 3% or 6%

Instructions

• Combine two tablespoons of warm water with one teaspoon of yeast and mix until the yeast is completely dissolved in the water.
• Pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle
• Add a few drops of food coloring into the bottle
• Add a squirt of dish soap into the bottle
• Pour the mixture of water & yeast into the bottle
• Sit back and watch what happens

Reader Interactions

February 7, 2016 at 8:13 pm

do it was a cemical reacin

February 8, 2016 at 1:15 pm

Correct! The yeast is mixed with the hydrogen peroxide causes a chemical reaction.

Which version did you like better, the one that reacted fast or the one that reacted slow?

May 17, 2018 at 12:31 pm

Looks amazing! What is the chemical reaction?

March 24, 2019 at 10:40 am

I’m am going to do that science project and this was super helpful thanks so much

March 24, 2019 at 10:46 am

Thank you so much I am doing this science project and I don’t know what to do and now I know what to do j

September 1, 2019 at 8:09 am

Did you try using more yeast or more 3 % hydrogen peroxide?

Found this explanation: “The yeast acted as a catalyst; a catalyst is used to speed up a reaction. It quickly broke apart the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Because it did this very fast, it created lots and lots of bubbles. Did you notice the bottle got warm. Your experiment created a reaction called an Exothermic Reaction – that means it not only created foam, it created heat! The foam produced is just water, soap, and oxygen ” The yeast is not reacting with the hydrogen peroxide. Rather it is acting as a catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that causes a chemical reaction to speed up but is not “used” up during the reaction. Hydrogen Peroxide: H2O2 hydrogen and oxygen Baker’s Yeast: C19H14O2 carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

August 18, 2020 at 2:25 pm

My son did this experiment which was great! The only problem was that he played with the foam afterwards and his hands got super itchy. Can you be allergic to the yeast? Just a warning in case this happens to anyone else.

August 11, 2023 at 8:49 pm

Yeah I did this with potassium iodide and 25% hydrogen peroxide in a lab and my fingers went a little white on the tips (I had gloves on after this happened) they did get itchy and I think it was just the hydrogen peroxide bleaching the skin. This is an exothermic reaction so it can get hot not sure how hot with yeast.

January 25, 2022 at 11:25 am

It did not work for me and i don’t know why maybe caused i used rubbing alcohol insted

December 6, 2023 at 3:55 pm

good helpful and fun

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Elephant Toothpaste Experiment: How-To Plus Free Worksheet

Heat things up with this larger-than-life science lesson.

Who knew toothpaste could be so fun? While no actual toothpaste is produced, this experiment is an exciting and hands-on way to bring several science lessons to life. You’ll want to use some caution when performing it with kids. Some of the chemicals used can be irritating and the substance produced is hot, so you won’t want to actually brush anyone’s teeth with the foam, as tempting as that may be! Read on to see how to do the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment, and  fill out the form on this page  to grab your free recording sheet.

How does the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment work?

This experiment works through a chemical reaction that results from a catalyst (potassium iodide, aka yeast) being introduced into a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. The hydrogen peroxide is decomposed into water and oxygen and the catalyst speeds up the reaction, forcing the oxygen into the soap bubbles. The resulting effect is the substance quickly pouring up and out of the container.

What does the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment teach?

This experiment is a crowd-pleaser, but it also serves to teach kids a lot. The concept of a catalyst speeding up a reaction is demonstrated in an obvious and exciting way as the introduction of the yeast forces the foam to explode up and out of the bottle. It also teaches kids about exothermic reactions as the foam coming out of the bottle is hot. Additionally, kids get to see a decomposition reaction as the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide results in the release of oxygen gas.

Is there an Elephant Toothpaste Experiment video?

This video from teacher Hilary Statum will give you the step-by-step instructions for making your own Elephant Toothpaste.

Materials Needed

To do the experiment, you will need:

• 16-oz. empty plastic soda bottle
• Very warm water
• 3% hydrogen peroxide (6% is better, if available)
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Safety glasses
• Safety gloves
• Funnel or measuring cup with a lip
• Food coloring

Our free recording sheet is also helpful— fill out the form on this page to get it!

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment steps:

1. place the bottle on a large tray and put on your safety goggles and gloves., 2. mix 1 tablespoon of yeast into 3 tablespoons of warm water until you achieve a creamy consistency. place in a small cup and set to the side., 3. use a funnel or measuring cup to pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle., 4. add a bit of food coloring. for a solid color, add directly into the bottle. for stripes, squirt it with the pipettes so it trickles down the sides of the inside of the bottle., 5. add approximately 1 tablespoon of dish soap to the hydrogen peroxide., 6. use a funnel or measuring cup to add the yeast mixture to the bottle., 7. step back and watch the explosion, grab our free elephant toothpaste experiment worksheet.

Fill out the form on this page to get your worksheets. The first worksheet asks kids to make a prediction about what they think will happen. They can use the provided spaces to draw or write their predictions and observations. The second worksheet lists questions for students to answer about the experiment.

Additional Reflection Questions

• Why do we add the yeast to the water?
• What do you think would happen if we added more dish soap?
• What do you think would happen if we added more yeast to the mixture?
• What is the liquid that is left in the bottle?
• Describe the reaction that occurs. How long does it last?

Can this experiment be done for a science fair?

Yes! If you want to do the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment for a science fair, we recommend switching up some of the variables. For example: Does the type or shape of the container matter? Does the type of dish soap matter? Does adding more yeast change the reaction? Form a hypothesis about how changing the variables will impact the experiment. Good luck!

Looking for more experiment ideas? Check out our  big list of experiment ideas here.

Plus, be sure to  subscribe to our newsletters  for more articles like this., you might also like.

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Elephant Toothpaste: The Science Behind the Foamy Fun

Table of Contents

Elephant Toothpaste is not something you’ll find in the bathroom cupboard, but rather in a science teacher’s toolkit. This foamy experiment serves as a visual spectacle that showcases the concepts of chemical reactions and catalysis. When you mix the right ingredients, including hydrogen peroxide, soap, and a catalyst like potassium iodide, you create an eruption of foam that resembles an oversized squeeze of toothpaste – hence the name.

The reaction is not only a crowd-pleaser but also an educational goldmine, introducing you to exothermic reactions, where heat is released, and the role of catalysts in increasing reaction rates. Safety is paramount; appropriate precautions are necessary to handle the chemicals involved safely. So, as you prepare to witness this foamy marvel, it highlights the fun hidden within the science curriculum, revealing the power of combining the right substances under the right conditions.

Michelle Connolly, founder and educational consultant with over 16 years of classroom experience, observes, “Elephant Toothpaste is a fantastic way to get children excited about science; it’s reactive, it’s over the top, and it really sticks with them.”

Key Takeaways

• Elephant Toothpaste demonstrates a chemical reaction that’s both educational and visually impressive.
• The experiment elucidates on catalysis and the science of exothermic reactions.
• Safety measures should be strictly followed due to the chemicals involved.

The Chemistry Behind Elephant Toothpaste

Before delving into the two key components of this intriguing reaction, it’s essential to understand that Elephant Toothpaste showcases an exothermic reaction where decomposition produces noticeable results.

The Role of Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a substance that naturally decomposes into water and oxygen over time. When used in the Elephant Toothpaste experiment , this process is sped up to produce a rapid release of oxygen gas. The breaking down of hydrogen peroxide is the core of this reaction and is responsible for the torrent of foam that gives the experiment its name.

Catalysts in the Reaction

A catalyst serves to accelerate a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. For Elephant Toothpaste, common catalysts include potassium iodide or yeast mixed with warm water. Once added to the hydrogen peroxide, the catalyst breaks it down at a significantly increased rate. This leads to the swift production of oxygen and heat, making the reaction exothermic. Such an enthusiasm in speed is crucial for the rapid expansion of foam.

Michelle Connolly, the founder of LearningMole and an educational consultant with over 16 years of classroom experience, points out, “Elephant Toothpaste not only demonstrates the power of catalysts in chemistry but also captivates young minds with its visual and dynamic nature.” It’s an excellent example of how simple chemical principles can create an unforgettable learning experience.

Essential Ingredients and Alternatives

Before embarking on the fun and educational journey of the elephant toothpaste experiment, it is important to understand the key ingredients required and the possible alternatives, especially if a kid-friendly version is desired.

Standard Ingredients for the Experiment

Hydrogen Peroxide : This is the primary reactant; a higher concentration, such as 30%, is typically used for dramatic effect. Potassium Iodide : Acts as the catalyst to decompose the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas rapidly. Soap : Helps trap the oxygen gas, creating foam. Dishwashing detergent can be used as an alternative. Food Colouring : Adds a visual flair to the foam, making the experiment more visually appealing.

Substitutes and Kid-Friendly Versions

For safer experiments at home, especially with children, you can use a more readily available 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Instead of potassium iodide, yeast mixed with warm water serves as an effective substitute catalyst. “Just ensure the hydrogen peroxide solution is handled with care to avoid irritation,” says Michelle Connolly, founder and educational consultant at LearningMole with over 16 years of classroom experience.

Kid-Friendly Version :

• Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) instead of the more concentrated versions.
• Yeast as a safe catalyst substitute.
• Food Colouring and Dish Soap remain the same but ensure to use non-toxic varieties if available.

Step-by-Step Procedure

This section provides a clear and concise guide to creating the exuberant chemical reaction known as Elephant Toothpaste. Please ensure to follow the safety guidelines closely and prepare your materials before starting.

Preparation

To begin, make sure you have safety goggles and protective gloves , as you will be handling a concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution which can cause irritation or burns. You will need a clean plastic bottle , ideally placed in a sink or on a tray to catch the overflowing foam. Procure a packet of active yeast as your catalyst and have some warm water ready to activate it. Lastly, ensure you have distilled water to dilute the hydrogen peroxide if needed.

Conducting the Experiment

First, mix the active yeast in a small container with warm water according to the instructions—this will help kickstart the reaction. Next, carefully pour the concentrated hydrogen peroxide into the plastic bottle . Remember, the higher the concentration, the more dramatic your reaction will be.

“Always add the hydrogen peroxide to the water, never the other way around, to minimise the risk of a violent reaction,” advises Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with extensive experience in practical chemistry.

Add a squirt of dish soap to the hydrogen peroxide to help create the foam. Then, when you are ready for the reaction to take place, pour the activated yeast mixture into the bottle with the hydrogen peroxide and step back to observe the foamy eruption resembling toothpaste large enough for an elephant!

Safety Measures and Precautions

Before you begin the exciting experiment known as Elephant Toothpaste, it’s crucial to prioritise your safety. By adhering to safety guidelines, you’ll ensure a fun and injury-free experience.

Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment

Safety Glasses and Goggles: You must wear safety glasses or safety goggles at all times to shield your eyes from splashes, as chemical exposure can lead to severe eye injury.

Protective Gloves: It’s imperative to wear nitrile gloves to protect your skin from potential chemical burns when handling reactants.

Handling Chemicals Safely

Chemical Exposure: When mixing chemicals, do it in a well-ventilated area and be conscious of proper dosages to prevent thermal burns and adverse reactions.

Immediate Action: In the case of any spill or skin contact, wash the affected area with plenty of water and seek medical assistance if necessary.

Always follow these safety precautions to enjoy the Elephant Toothpaste experiment without any risks.

Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an educational consultant with over 16 years of classroom experience, advises, “Experimentation is a brilliant way to learn, but never at the cost of safety. Adequate PPE is as vital to a successful science experiment as the reactants themselves.” Your protection is paramount, so equip yourself with the proper safety gear and knowledge to conduct this reaction with confidence.

Exothermic Reactions Explained

In this section, you’ll uncover the nature of exothermic reactions, including why they release heat and how they are a part of everyday phenomena.

Understanding Heat Release

When a substance undergoes an exothermic reaction , it gives off energy in the form of heat . This transfer of energy occurs because the total energy of the products is less than the total energy of the reactants. The excess energy is released to the surroundings, often raising the temperature and sometimes producing light or steam .

Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and educational consultant, shares that “Exothermic reactions are a foundational concept in chemistry that helps to explain everyday occurrences like combustion and even simple acts like using heat packs to warm your hands.”

Common Exothermic Reactions

Several common reactions are exothermic. Combustion, such as burning wood or petrol, is a reaction that produces large amounts of heat. Reactions in our own bodies, like the breakdown of glucose, also release heat. A familiar classroom demonstration of an exothermic reaction is the ‘elephant toothpaste’ experiment, which produces a sizeable foamy substance along with noticeable warmth, demonstrating an energetic exothermic reaction .

By understanding exothermic reactions, you can better grasp the role of energy in chemical processes and how it affects the world around you.

The Visual Spectacle

You instantly notice the dramatic reaction known as Elephant Toothpaste for its captivating display. It’s a chemistry experiment-turned-performance that never fails to amaze.

Formation of Foam and Bubbles

When hydrogen peroxide reacts with yeast or potassium iodide, a rapid decomposition occurs. Dish soap added to the mix captures the oxygen released, creating an explosive volcano of foam . The cascade of foam is comprised of countless tiny bubbles , each a spectacle in its own right.

Colour and Light Effects

For an extra flair, food colouring transforms the foam into vibrant, eye-catching hues. Under UV light, with a glowing splint , you can even create eerie effects, illuminating the colossal foamy mass from within. This safe, yet thrilling demonstration truly merges science with art.

Catalysis and Reaction Rates

In the world of chemical reactions, catalyst s play the crucial role of increasing the rate at which reactions occur without being consumed in the process. The “Elephant Toothpaste” experiment serves as a classic demonstration of catalysis and reaction kinetics .

How Catalysts Work

A catalyst is a substance that accelerates a chemical reaction. It provides an alternative pathway for the reaction to occur, usually with a lower activation energy. Take for instance the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide . In this reaction, an iodide ion acts as a catalyst, rapidly breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. Despite playing a pivotal role, the catalyst emerges unchanged from the reaction it accelerates.

Factors Affecting Reaction Speed

There are numerous factors that influence how quickly a chemical reaction proceeds. The concentration of reactants, the temperature at which the reaction is conducted, and the presence of a catalyst all have significant impacts. In the case of Elephant Toothpaste , the presence of an iodide ion significantly increases the reaction speed , causing a swift catalyzed eruption of foam. This is due to the catalyst’s ability to reduce the activation energy required for the rapid decomposition .

“The effectiveness of a catalyst in increasing reaction speed can make a dramatic difference, as seen in the spectacular Elephant Toothaste experiment,” says Michelle Connolly, an educational consultant with vast experience in the classroom.

The fascinating process of catalysis and its impact on reaction rates is central to our understanding of chemical kinetics.

Variations and Related Demonstrations

Exploring the Elephant Toothpaste experiment offers numerous avenues for variation, each capable of creating different visual and scientific effects. Here’s how you can make this chemistry demonstration more exciting or educational.

Experiment Variations for Different Effects

• Kid-Friendly Approach: An enjoyable variant for children involves using regular household hydrogen peroxide and food colouring. This reaction is safe and creates colourful foam without the need for stronger chemicals.
• Glowing Reaction: For an eerie glow, some add fluorescent dye and conduct the experiment under a black light, turning a simple reaction into a spectacular nocturnal event.

Similar Chemical Demonstrations

• Chemical Volcano: Similar to the Elephant Toothpaste, this demo uses baking soda and vinegar to create an “eruption” with less foam but a similar wow factor.
• Glowing Splint Test: A classic teaching aid for demonstrating oxygen’s presence, involves igniting a splint, extinguishing it, and then introducing it to oxygen-rich environments, like the one created in the Elephant Toothpaste experiment, to watch it re-ignite.

Michelle Connolly, an educational consultant with over 16 years of classroom experience, notes, “Variations in these experiments allow you to tailor the learning experience to different age levels and curricular goals.”

Cleanup and Disposal

When exploring the exciting realm of chemical reactions like Elephant Toothpaste, it’s crucial to manage the aftermath responsibly and safely.

Proper Cleanup Procedures

For clean up , it’s vital to ensure that any spills are promptly and carefully dealt with. If the Elephant Toothpaste experiment has gotten a bit messy, begin by donning gloves and safety goggles. Scoop up the solid remnants of foam with a dustpan or spatula, and transfer them to a plastic bag. Any surfaces that have come into contact with the mixture should be wiped down with paper towels or a cloth. Once the foam is removed, wash the area with soapy water to remove any residual traces of the chemicals.

Disposing of Chemicals Responsibly

The chemicals used in your Elephant Toothpaste recipe , especially if they’re on a larger scale or more concentrated, require careful disposal. Michelle Connolly, the founder of LearningMole and an educational consultant with decades of classroom experience, advises, “Always follow local regulations for the disposal of your science experiment waste. When in doubt, consult a professional.” This might mean neutralising any leftover hydrogen peroxide with a mild acid, like vinegar, and then diluting with considerable amounts of water before pouring down the drain. Remember to check with your local waste management service to ensure proper disposal protocols are followed.

Educational Value and Learning Opportunities

The ‘Elephant Toothpaste’ experiment isn’t just a fun show of foam, it’s a tool for teaching important scientific concepts. This experiment offers a visual spectacle that can captivate children and serves as a practical application of several chemical principles.

Teaching Chemical Principles

The ‘Elephant Toothpaste’ experiment is a classic science experiment that provides a visual demonstration of a chemical reaction, specifically the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. This reaction is catalysed by iodide, which is used in various forms like potassium iodide. The rapid breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas results in the release of energy, evident by the exothermic foam. Here, children can observe how a catalyst works to speed up a reaction without being consumed in the process. By varying the concentration of reactants or the catalyst, students can witness changes in the rate of reaction, providing concrete examples for discussions on reaction rates and catalysis.

Stem Activity Integration

STEM activities are integral for a comprehensive education, encouraging students to engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on learning. Integrating the ‘Elephant Toothpaste’ experiment into STEM curriculum promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Children can explore variables that affect the reaction rate, such as temperature and surface area, by conducting the experiment with different conditions and drawing comparisons. Moreover, with resources available online , they can extend their learning beyond the classroom. For instance, a visit to LearningMole allows them to explore a greater variety of STEM activities and related educational content.

Remember, it’s not just about the spectacle; it’s about the learning opportunities that come with it. As Michelle Connolly, founder and educational consultant with a wealth of classroom experience, says, “Every burst of foam is a chance to ignite curiosity and inspire a love for science.”

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, you’ll find answers to common queries about the Elephant Toothpaste experiment, detailing the necessary components, scientific principles, and steps to create this exciting chemical reaction at home or in the classroom.

What ingredients are required for making Elephant Toothpaste?

To create Elephant Toothpaste, you need hydrogen peroxide (typically a 30% solution for dramatic effect), liquid dish soap, food colouring for visual flair, and a catalyst such as potassium iodide or yeast mixed with warm water.

Can you describe the chemical reaction involved in Elephant Toothaste?

The Elephant Toothpaste reaction involves the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas, aided by the catalyst. This oxygen release creates copious foam, resembling toothpaste being squeezed from a tube, but on a much larger scale.

How do you prepare the Elephant Toothaste mixture?

You start by mixing hydrogen peroxide with liquid soap and food colouring. Then, in a separate container, combine the catalyst with warm water. When you’re ready, pour the catalyst mixture into the peroxide blend and observe the reaction.

What is the role of a catalyst in the Elephant Toothpaste experiment?

A catalyst, such as potassium iodide or yeast, accelerates the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Michelle Connolly mentions, “Catalysts are like unsung heroes in chemistry, speeding up reactions without being consumed in the process.”

Why does the Elephant Toothaste reaction produce so much foam?

The foam is produced by the rapid release of oxygen bubbles caught in the dish soap within the mixture. As the oxygen tries to escape, it forms bubbles, creating a mass of foam that looks like a giant blob of toothpaste.

Is potassium iodide (KI) necessary for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the Elephant Toothpaste experiment?

While potassium iodide is a common catalyst used for this reaction, it’s not the only one that can be used. Yeast mixed with warm water can also act as a catalyst, emphasising that the key factor is the presence of a substance that speeds up the hydrogen peroxide decomposition.

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Elephant Toothpaste

Create a giant, foaming reaction that will astound kids with this Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment. This simple science experiment is a another erupting science that thrills kids of all ages. Students will learn about chemical reactions that are exothermic. Go beyond baking soda and vinegar reactions and try Elephant Toothpaste.

How To Make Elephant Toothpaste

What you will discover in this article!

Disclaimer: This article may contain commission or affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer I earn from qualifying purchases. Not seeing our videos? Turn off any adblockers to ensure our video feed can be seen. Or visit our YouTube channel to see if the video has been uploaded there. We are slowly uploading our archives. Thanks!

This classic science experiment has been wowing kids for generations. At the science centre or on TV you have probably seen spectacular elephant toothpaste experiments that shoot up feet into the air. Here we provide you with a simple version of Elephant Toothpaste using items from your home.

Check out our video set to music demonstrating Elephant Toothpaste in action!

Watch this fun experiment in action. If you can’t see the video, please turn off your adblockers as they also block our video feed. You can also find this video on the STEAM Powered Family YouTube Channel .

What is Elephant Toothpaste?

Elephant toothpaste is a safe, fantastic foamy science experiment using Hydrogen Peroxide and Yeast. When done in a beaker or bottle that narrows at the top, it oozes out like a great big tube of toothpaste. Perfectly sized for an elephant!

Depending on where you are in the world, Elephant’s Toothpaste has also been called Devil’s Toothpaste, Demon’s Toothpaste

It packs huge wow factor with the kids. It also provides a sensory experience while teaching kids important scientific principles such as:

Chemistry Catalyst Surface tension Exothermic reaction Temperature Liquid/Gas (states of matter) Mixture

Is Elephant Toothpaste Safe?

Elephant Toothpaste is safe when using 3% hydrogen peroxide! The foam is composed of soap, oxygen and water. It makes a great sensory science experience.

NOTE: Although we call this toothpaste, it is not toothpaste and should not be tasted. Ensure appropriate supervision is provided at all times.

Elephant Toothpaste Ingredients

250mL Glass Erlenmeyer Flask or an empty plastic bottle Dry yeast Warm water Liquid dish soap 3% hydrogen peroxide * Liquid food colouring Measuring cups Measuring spoons Safety goggles or glasses Large tub or tray (something with a lip) Funnel (optional – can help kids with pouring) Infrared non-contact thermometer (optional, helps with measuring the exothermic reaction)

*Higher percentage concentration hydrogen peroxide are dangerous and can cause skin irritation. Ensure you are using 3% with your kids in this experiment.

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment

Pick a place to do this experiment that is easy to clean up. If you do this in a nice big, high lipped tray that should contain most of foam, but in my experience kids love to play and touch the foam, so things can get messy quickly. Have your child put on safety glasses and clothes they don’t mind splashing.

Start by mixing one packet (about 1 tablespoon) of yeast with 1/4 cup warm water in cup to create the first mixture . Let it sit for about 30 seconds while you prep the beaker.

Into the flask add 150 mL of Hydrogen Peroxide, a tablespoon of dish soap (after a few tries we just used a squirt of dish soap, it doesn’t need to be exact), and about 15 drops of food coloring (if desired).

If you are taking temperatures, take a temperature of each of the liquids now.

Now pour the yeast mixture into the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Watch the reaction!

If you are doing temperatures, make sure you take a temperature read during the reaction too!

Elephant Toothpaste Science

The main reactor in this experiment is 3% Hydrogen Peroxide a liquid made from hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms (chemical formula H 2 O 2 ), which is used in first aid as an antiseptic. Normally it comes in a dark bottle because H 2 O 2 or hydrogen peroxide breaks down in light, turning into oxygen (O 2 ) and water (H 2 O). Normally this reaction happens very slowly, but we can speed it up with a little science!

Yeast, which we use to make bread , is an organism that contains a special chemical called catalase that can act as a catalyst to help break down hydrogen peroxide. This means that if you mix yeast with hydrogen peroxide, the hydrogen peroxide will rapidly break down into liquid water and oxygen gas . During this process energy is also released in the form of heat, which is known as an exothermic reaction .

Elephant Toothpaste Chemical Formula

Here is the chemical reaction for Elephant Toothpaste: 2 H 2 O 2 (aq) → 2 H 2 O (l) + O 2 (g)

Those gas bubbles would normally pop and disappear, but by adding a bit of dish soap, we can trap lots of bubbles thanks to an increase in surface tension . We explore this scientific concept in our Magic Milk experiment . This means the foam is simply soap, oxygen and water. Perfectly safe to touch and explore!

The result is a spectacular eruption of foam known as Elephant Toothpaste.

Elephant Toothpaste Extension Activities

There are a few things you can do to dig deeper into this reaction:

• Use an infrared no touch thermometer to measure the exothermic reaction.
• Why stop at a single color? Make multi-colored Elephant’s Toothpaste by dropping different colors of liquid food coloring down the inside of the bottle rather than mixing it into the solution. The result will be colored foam stripes.
• Try different shaped containers to see how the reaction changes. Maybe a plastic soda bottle or a mason jar with a wider neck. How does the experiment results change?
• Alter the ratio of yeast to hydrogen peroxide. What if you increase to one cup of hydrogen peroxide? What effect does it have on the reaction?
• What happens if you remove the dish soap?
• Visit your local science center and ask when they will be doing their next Elephant Toothpaste demonstration. They use a different reaction that produces spectacular results with lots of foam!
• Only do this next extension with responsible middle or high school students, and under direct adult supervision – Visit the hair supply store and get 6% or higher hydrogen peroxide. How does the higher concentration hydrogen peroxide change the results? ( Hint … bigger and messier!)

Don’t forget to try our Valentine’s Day Science Experiment Blooming Roses Elephant Toothpaste !

How To Clean Up Elephant Toothpaste

Once you are done with the experiment and playing with the foam, you can wash everything up in the sink . In fact, it cleans up easily thanks to the soap.

Sensory Experience

While doing this experiment ensure you discuss the sensory inputs provided by this fantastic foaming science.

First they will experience the sense of smell from the yeast. Have the kids discuss this smell and what it reminds them of.

Next we have the sensory experience of touch . This is done in two ways. Have them touch the sides of the beaker before and after the experiment starts. This way they can experience the exothermic reaction (the beaker will feel warm, but as long as you are using 3% hydrogen peroxide, it is not hot). You can reinforce this exploration by using a non-contact thermometer. The second touch experience is with the foam. The foam is perfectly safe to touch. As we explored in the science portion, the foam is just soap, water and oxygen.

Elephant toothpaste is a fantastic sensory science experience.

Elephant Toothpaste Classic Science

Creating Elephant Toothpaste is a quick and easy science experiment that can be easily adjusted to suit the learning needs of upper elementary through middle school. It has great WOW factor, and kids around the world have loved creating these foamy fountains we affectionately call, Elephant Toothpaste.

Enjoy this classic science experiment!

More Science Experiments For Kids

Elephant Toothpaste: Foamy Science Experiment

This post may contain affiliate links.

This fantastic foamy fountain science experiment, also called Elephant Toothpaste is SO very much fun! We did this experiment years ago and I decided it was time to revisit it with my younger kids.

We decided to try it with with both regular hydrogen peroxide and the 6% solution at the same time and compare the difference. In our images, the red is with the stronger solution and the blue is with the regular hydrogen peroxide.

Watch the Video of us Making Elephant Toothpaste

You have got to try this fun elephant toothpaste experiment with your kids.  It’s amazing to see the the simple chemical reactions you can make from things in your own house!

Ingredients for Elephant Toothpaste Experiment:

A clean empty plastic bottle- we used glass milk bottles 1/2 cup 6% solution hydrogen peroxide liquid (also called 20-volume hydrogen peroxide) 1 Tablespoon (one packet) of dry yeast 3 Tablespoons of warm water 1 Tbsp liquid dish soap Liquid food coloring Safety Goggles- if you have them!

How To Do the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment:

First, a note about the Hydrogen peroxide: You need a 6% solution. You can get this from a beauty supply store or on Amazon. This time we tried it with both the regular 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and with the 6% solution side by side so my kids could see the difference between the two.

This experiment can also be done with 20 volume or 40 volume peroxide. However, if you use the higher strength, I recommend doing it as a demonstration without kids touching. It can be more dangerous with the stronger chemicals and the heat reaction gets much hotter.

As you can see from the pictures, foam will overflow from the bottle, so be sure to do this experiment on a washable surface, place the bottle(s) on a tray or in a large tub that can contain the mess.

Pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle. Then add about 10 drops of food coloring into the bottle.

Next you will mix in 1 Tbsp. of liquid dish soap into the bottle and swish the bottle around a bit to mix it. This will create more foam in the reaction.

In a separate small cup, combine the warm water and the yeast together and mix with a spoon for about 30 seconds.

Lastly, pour the yeast mixture into the bottle (a funnel helps here) and watch the foaminess begin!

Make it in a larger quantity and use large a 2 liter plastic soda bottle!

How Does the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment Work?

Hydrogen peroxide is a solution we often use to clean our cuts. It kills bacteria on wounds. It is a liquid that is made up of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms. It’s chemical formula is H2O2. When it comes in contact with bacteria called catalase, it bubbles and reacts. Since most of our tissues and the cells of most living things have this enzyme it it, the peroxide bubbles on our skin.

Yeast has this special chemical or enzyme in it called catalase.  It acts as a catalyst (a helper) to breakdown the hydrogen peroxide. Each tiny bubble made in this foamy experiment is filled with oxygen gas.  It is removing the oxygen atoms from the hydrogen peroxide. Since it reacts very quickly, it creates lots and lots of bubbles.

These bubbles would pop quickly and just escape from the liquid. We add dish soap to create surface tension.  This traps those oxygen bubbles and create all of the foam that pours out of the bottle.

id you notice the bottle got warm. My kids said this when they touched the foam. This experiment created a reaction called an Exothermic Reaction.  An Exothermic reaction creates heat!

This experiment is called “Elephant’s Toothpaste” because it looks like toothpaste coming out of a tube, but don’t get the foam in your mouth! It is definitely not edible.

See More Awesome Projects in my new book: Science Art & Drawing Games for Kids

See More Fun Science Experiments for Kids:

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

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How fun my kids would love this!

I’ve never seen this done with hydrogen peroxide. how fun!

I’ve only seen it done with hydrogen peroxide. What have you seen it done with. Please type back as soon as you can.

This is so much fun! It looks like your kids loved it–we did Elephant Toothpaste earlier this year and had a blast with it! Thanks for sharing it at Teach Me Tuesday!

Hi again, Karyn! This was one of the most clicked on links last week! Congratulations! I’m featuring it to day at Preschool Powol Packets!

This looks like a fun experiment for my young girl;s science club! have you tried variables other than the strenght of the peroxide?

Is your 6% peroxide a cream? If so does that work as well as the liquid.

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Elephant’s toothpaste.

Explore the science of this explosive elephant toothpaste experiment, and try your own version at home.

Experiment with some enormous ‘toothpaste’, fit for an elephant.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes naturally into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). By adding a few more ingredients we can make a huge, bubbly reaction to visualise this process. In this experiment we add dish soap, to help create bubbles, and a catalyst — which is a special chemical that allows us to fast forward a reaction.

We’ve used two different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide to show how the strength of a chemical can change the size of the reaction, but you can easily try this experiment at home with just a few household ingredients.

IMPORTANT: Please note, if you try this experiment at home you need to use hydrogen peroxide bleach, NOT a chlorine-based bleach.

What you’ll need:

• Empty plastic bottle
• 1/4 cup of dishwashing liquid
• 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Packet of active yeast

Instructions

• Pour the dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide into your bottle.
• Activate the yeast by stirring in a little warm water, waiting at least 10 minutes for the yeast to “wake up”. The yeast mixture is ready when the yeast has dissolved and the liquid starts bubbling. This will be the catalyst for this reaction.
• When you’re ready to start the experiment, add the yeast and watch how quickly the reaction occurs!

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• Science Starters
• Science at Home

Elephant Toothpaste

Watch up-close to see how catalysts help ignite chemical reactions. join camille schrier, a scientist who was crowned miss america 2020, as she shows you how to make a chemical reaction so big it’s fit for elephants.

• Quicklinks:

Key Concepts

The elephant toothpaste experiment is so dramatic because the reaction happens quickly. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down naturally over time, especially when exposed to light, but in this reaction the yeast causes that breakdown to happen much quicker. This is because yeast is a catalyst - a substance that can help the reactants react to each other faster, without becoming part of the end products of the reaction. Catalysts were first written about in 1794 by a Scottish chemist named Elizabeth Fulhame. She was writing about chemical reactions used in dyes and paints, and described lots of different ways that metals and other materials interact. Since then, chemists and engineers have discovered lots of other ways to use catalysts, and they help make many materials that we use today. Yeast is a naturally occurring catalyst that is good at breaking down hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). In this experiment, we will see how that process looks when it happens quickly.

• Molecular Interaction
• Energy Conservation
• An adult helper
• Safety glasses
• ½ cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1 packet of dry yeast (or 1 tablespoon)
• Plastic water bottle
• Baking pan or tray (to contain the mess)
• Food coloring (optional)

Preparation

• Put the yeast in a small cup or bowl, and add about 3 tablespoons of warm water to activate it.
• Put your safety glasses on. Mix the hydrogen peroxide and a few squirts of dish soap in the plastic water bottle. Add food coloring to this if you like.
• Place the plastic water bottle on the baking pan or tray, and make sure you are in an area that is easy to clean up- bathroom, kitchen or outside are all good options.
• Make a prediction about what is going to happen when you add the yeast to the hydrogen peroxide and soap mixture.
• Carefully pour the yeast mixture into the bottle and stand back- watch what happens as the yeast and hydrogen peroxide mix.
• Be sure to clean up when you are done. Your mixture can be dumped down the sink, and all of the containers and measuring tools you used can be washed and put away. Make sure to clean up any mess that was left on the ground or floor as well.

Observation and Results

You should see the mixture start to foam and shoot out the top of the plastic bottle. This is happening because the hydrogen peroxide is breaking down into water and oxygen very quickly due to the yeast. The yeast is acting as a catalyst to speed up the reaction. The oxygen gas takes up a lot more space than when it was in liquid form, so it starts to leave the bottle. The foam is caused by the dish soap forming bubbles with the oxygen as it is produced.

You may have also noticed some steam coming off of the foam, or that it feels warm to the touch. That is because this reaction is exothermic - it releases heat as a form of energy. It takes more energy to hold the molecules together in the form of hydrogen peroxide than it does to hold the oxygen and water molecules together, so when the peroxide molecules break up, that extra energy has to go somewhere. It gets released as heat.

What would happen if you tried the reaction without soap? What do you think you would see? Does changing the container you do the reaction in change the way the foam moves? Can you think of any other exothermic reactions? Why would it be useful to have a reaction that can produce heat? Can you think of other chemical reactions that mix liquids to produce gas? Are those similar or different to this reaction? Why do you think yeast naturally breaks down hydrogen peroxide? There are lots of ways to find out more about this reaction. Do some research on your own and see what other people have done with it.

Safety First and Adult Supervision

• Follow the experiment’s instructions carefully.
• A responsible adult should assist with each experiment.
• While science experiments at home are exciting ways to learn about science hands-on, please note that some may require participants to take extra safety precautions and/or make a mess.
• Adults should handle or assist with potentially harmful materials or sharp objects.
• Adult should review each experiment and determine what the appropriate age is for the student’s participation in each activity before conducting any experiment.

Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) Supported - Disciplinary Core Ideas

This experiment was selected for Science at Home because it teaches NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas, which have broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines.

Learn more about how this experiment is based in NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas.

Engineering Design (ETS)1: Engineering Design

• 2-PS1-1. Different kinds of matter exist and many of them can be either solid or liquid depending on temperature. Matter can be described and classified by its observable properties.\n2-PS1-2. Different properties are suited to different purposes.
• 5-PS1-1. Matter of any type can be subdivided into particles that are too small to see, but even then, the matter still exists and can be detected by other means.
• 5-PS1-2. The amount (weight) of matter is conserved when it changes form, even in transitions in which it seems to vanish.
• 5-PS1-3. Measurements of a variety of properties can be used to identify materials.
• Substances are made from different types of atoms, which combine with one another in various ways.
• Atoms form molecules that range in size from two to thousands of atoms.
• Each pure substance has characteristic physical and chemical properties that can be used to identify it.
• Gases and liquids are made of molecules or inert atoms that are moving about relative to each other.\nIn a liquid, the molecules are constantly in contact with others.

Grades 9-12

• HS-PS1-1. Each atom has a charged substructure consisting of a nucleus, which is made of protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.
• HS-PS1-2. The periodic table orders elements horizontally by the number of protons in the atom’s nucleus and places those with similar chemical properties in columns. The repeating patterns of this table reflect patterns of outer electron states.
• HS-PS1-3. The structure and interactions of matter at the bulk scale are determined by electrical forces within and between atoms.
• HS-PS1-4. Stable forms of matter are those in which the electric and magnetic field energy is minimized. A stable molecule has less energy than the same set of atoms separated; one must provide at least this energy in order to take the molecule apart
• 2-PS1-4. Heating or cooling a substance may cause changes that can be observed. Sometimes these changes are reversible, and sometimes they are not.
• 5-PS1-4. When two or more different substances are mixed. A new substance with different properties may be formed.
• 5-PS1-2. No matter what reaction or change in properties occurs, the total weight of the substances does not change.\nGrades 6-8\nMS-PS1-2. Substances react chemically in characteristic ways.
• MS-PS1-3. In a chemical process, the atoms that make up the original substances are regrouped into different molecules, and these new substances have different properties from those of the reactants.
• MS-PS1-5. The total number of each type of atom is conserved, and thus the mass does not change.
• MS-PS1-6. Some chemical reactions release energy, others store energy.
• HS-PS1-4,5. Chemical processes, their rates, and whether or not energy is stored or released can be understood in terms of the collisions of molecules and the rearrangement of atoms into new molecules with consequent changes in the sum of all bond energies in the set of molecules that are matched by the changes in kinetic energy.
• HS-PS1-6. In many situations, a dynamic and condition-dependent balance between a reaction and the reverse reaction determines the numbers of all types of molecules present.
• HS-PS1-7. The fact that atoms are conserved, together with the knowledge of the chemical properties of the elements involved, can be used to describe and predict chemical reactions.

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Elephant Toothpaste Explosion Experiment

Categories Science Experiments

We are big fans of creative STEM activities and science experiments for kids, which is why it’s a bit surprising that it’s taken us this long to do the classic elephant toothpaste explosion experiment!

The real reason is that this elephant toothpaste STEM project requires one sort of weird material- more concentrated hydrogen peroxide that is used to bleach hair.

Keep reading to find out how to transform this classic science demonstration into a real science lesson and STEM activity. If you love this activity, you’ll also like our entire unit of circus STEM activities!

If you’re like us, and have never tried this chemistry science experiment before, it’s super fun!

Kids love it and it’s an easy way to show how exothermic reactions work while still being relatively touch-safe.

What is the Purpose of Elephant Toothpaste?

Elephant toothpaste is nothing like toothpaste and it certainly isn’t meant for elephants.

I’m not sure where the elephant toothpaste description came from, except that when it comes out of a bottle, it looks a bit like toothpaste (particualrly if you dye it blue), and it’s big and frothy, so I suppose it would be the size an elephant would need to brush its teeth.

Elepahant toothpaste is actually a chemical reaction between yeast and hydrogen peroxide.

How Does Elephant Toothpaste Work?

The two main ingredients in elephant toothpaste (yeast and hydrogen peroxide) create a carbon dioxide gas, which creates large air bubbles that get trapped in soap, creating a frothy mixture that is fun to look at.

Elephant toothpaste is also an example of an exothermic reaction, meaning that the chemical reaction produces heat. If you put your hand near the foam as it is first emerging, you’ll feel a slight warmth.

It is not advised for kids to touch the foam.

Elephant Toothpaste STEM Project Directions

Follow along with these directions to make your own elephant toothpaste STEM project. Remember to stay safe, some of the ingredients in this project may irritate the skin or eyes, and may bleach clothing or furniture.

Elephant Toothpaste Hypothesis

Before starting the elephant toothpaste STEM activity, have the kids create a hypothesis. What do they think will happen when the ingredients mix?

You can also make a version with and without dish soap. How do the kids think the addition of the soap will change the reaction?

Elephant Toothpaste Questions

It’s always a good idea to ask questions and get kids thinking while doing science experiments. The elephant toothpaste science experiment is a good one to use as a examination of why it’s important to stay safe in the science lab.

Here are some questions you can ask the kids while doing this experiment:

• What is a chemical reaction?
• What is an exothermic reaction?
• Why does mixing the ingredients create a chemical byproduct?
• Would using differnet ingredients have the same reaction?
• Does changing the amount of each ingredient change the reaction?
• Why is it important to stay safe during a science experiment?

Elephant Toothpaste Conclusion

Children should come up with their own conclusions when doing this experiment (you can snag a copy of our STEM worksheet below), but some conclusions might include:

• When chemicals mix, they can react
• Changing the ingredients can change the reaction
• Some chemical reactions can be dangerous
• It’s important to take safety precautions when working with chemicals

What You Need for the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment

You’ll need a few things for this experiment:

• Active dry yeast
• 4 0 Volume Hydrogen Peroxide (find it at a local beauty store if you don’t want to ship it)
• Safety goggles ( these are perfect for kids)
• Food coloring ( these are our favorites )
• Large jar or bottle
• Large plastic tray

How to Do the Elephant Toothpaste Explosion Experiment

Mix 1 tablespoon of yeast with 3 tablespoons of slightly warm water in your jar.

Add some food coloring and stir.

Add about a tablespoon of dish soap to the liquid and stir carefully, so you don’t create too much froth.

Place the jar on the tray.

Put on your safety goggles. There is a small chance you might get some of the foam in your eyes while doing this experiment, so it’s important to stay safe!

Pour about 1/2 a cup of the hydrogen peroxide into a seperate cup.

When you are ready to start the reaction, carefully pour the hydrogen peroxide into the jar and watch things happen!

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Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment

• Written by Children's Museum Team
• Posted on Friday May 1, 2020

Where Do Elephants Pack Their Toothpaste? In Their Trunk!

This demonstration’s called Elephant’s Toothpaste because the chemical reaction produces a large foamy mess that looks like toothpaste squirting out of a tube. It is so big that only an elephant could use toothpaste this large. It is, of course, not toothpaste so please do not try to brush your teeth with it ! The kids-safe version below is harmless but certainly wouldn’t taste very good.

Vocabulary:

• Baking soda
• Endothermic

Elephant Toothpaste Materials:

 Hydrogen peroxide – 6% if possible. 3% (what is sold in drug stores) will give off a smaller reaction  Yeast  Dish Soap  Liquid watercolor or food coloring (optional)  Medium-sized soda-pop bottle (empty)  Funnel  Tiny scoops & spoons (about ¼-ish teaspoon) + a Tablespoon measure  Pipettes  Tub of water/sink close-by  Safety gloves  Safety glasses

Elephant Toothpaste Directions

• Before you do anything, put the soda-pop bottle on a baking tray or large bowl.
• Mix 1 Tbsp yeast into 3 Tbsp of warm water in a small paper cup. Consistency should be that of melted ice cream. Set aside to get all bubbly and happy (as yeast and warm water always do)
• Using the funnel, carefully pour about ½ cup of the Hydrogen Peroxide into the soda bottle
• Add some liquid watercolor (optional)
• Add about 1 Tbsp of dish soap to the Hydrogen Peroxide
• Use the funnel to pour the yeast mixture into the soda-pop bottle, then step back.

What’s Happening?

When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it turns into oxygen (O 2 ) and water (H 2 O). Normally this breakdown happens very slowly. But the reaction could be done faster 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! Because this reaction is exothermic, the bottle and the foam will be warm.

Check out these other STEAM activities that are sure to engage, entertain, and educate!

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How to Make Elephant Toothpaste

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As we all know, elephants probably don't brush their teeth. But if they did, they probably wouldn't use elephant toothpaste. It's really fun to make, though.

Imagine shaving cream shooting out of a volcano you made for the science fair. That's the satisfaction that comes with the foaming chemical reaction produced when you mix dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and dry yeast ― and the good news is, you can make it in your home. You know, if nobody minds you making a gigantic mess.

The elephant toothpaste reaction is just the speeding-up of a chemical reaction that usually happens very slowly. Hydrogen peroxide ― that antiseptic liquid that usually comes in a brown bottle and bubbles up when you put it on a cut ― is a chemical compound that's made of two hydrogen and two oxygen molecules bonded together. The chemical formula for hydrogen peroxide is H 2 O 2 , which might sound a bit familiar because it's very close to the most famous chemical compound of all time ― H 2 O, or plain old water. In fact, hydrogen peroxide, if left to its own devices, will sit around quietly decomposing into water and an extra oxygen atom ― especially when exposed to sunlight, which is why it comes in a dark brown bottle. But elephant toothpaste provides a way to see this chemical decomposition happen very quickly and dramatically.

The way to speed it up is to murder some yeast. These tiny organisms, like nearly all living things, contain an enzyme called catalase that acts as a catalyst for the reaction. Once the hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with the yeast, it starts splitting into water and oxygen gas at an alarming rate. The thing is, this reaction doesn't look like much unless you add the third ingredient: dish soap.

Because the oxygen gas released by decomposing H 2 O 2 just forms delicate bubbles that pop when they get to the surface, the spectacle of elephant toothpaste requires a little something extra to give the bubbles surface tension. Adding liquid soap preserves the bubbles and turns them into a rapidly proliferating foam.

Elephant Toothpaste Recipe

So, are you ready to make some elephant toothpaste? Great! You'll need:

• 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces, or 12 millilters) hydrogen peroxide. There are several different recipes online, but most agree that you get the best reaction with the 12 percent hydrogen peroxide solution (called "V40 developer") you can find at beauty supply stores ― the kind you use to bleach hair. That said, if you're trying this with children, it might be safer (although less exciting) to use the 3 percent H 2 O 2 you get in the brown bottle at the pharmacy, as the stronger stuff can really irritate skin and eyes. Of course, none of this stuff should be ingested.
• One packet of dry yeast granules you can find in the baking section of the grocery store.
• A giant dollop of dish soap.
• Food coloring, for flair, though this is optional.
• Warm water to activate the yeast.
• Protective eye gear like safety goggles or even your own eyeglasses. Gloves and an apron also would be a good idea.
• A container ― any bottle with a narrow neck will show off the elephant toothpaste reaction to its best advantage.
• A pan to catch your results, though a bathtub would be a smart place to do this experiment.

Follow the activation directions on the packet of yeast, adding warm water and waiting until it begins to fizz. Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the bottle first, adding a couple drops of food coloring if you wish, and a generous squirt of dish soap. Pour the yeast mixture in last, and watch it blast off!

Please don't cap the bottle, and please don't try to use this toothpaste on your own teeth!

If you like elephant toothpaste, you might really like the Mentos and Coke explosion .

Elephant Toothpaste FAQ

How do you make elephant toothpaste, can you use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide for elephant toothpaste, what is the meaning of elephant toothpaste, what kind of hydrogen peroxide do you need for elephant toothpaste, what causes elephant toothpaste to explode.

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment & Science Fair Project: Step-by-Step Guide

By: Author Charlene Hess

Posted on Last updated: September 12, 2023

If you’re on the lookout for some fun exploding STEM experiments , you definitely need to try this elephant toothpaste experiment . This fun science activity is sure to wow even the most serious of kids.

This cool science experiment is not only educational, but it’s also a lot of fun to watch.

Plus, it’s pretty easy to do – all you need is some hydrogen peroxide, yeast, dish soap, and food coloring.

This experiment is sure to please even kids who say they don’t like science.

Whether you’re doing it for fun, as an educational activity, or even as a science fair project, the elephant toothpaste science experiment is always a hit.

So gather up your supplies and get ready for one of our favorite STEAM activities for kids !

As with all science experiments, we always recommend taking caution. It’s always a good idea to wear safety goggles and have other precautions in place with any hands-on project like this.

Read on for a free step-by-step guide to the super cool, very popular Elephant Toothpaste Experiment!

This article may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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What Is Elephant Toothpaste?

Elephant toothpaste is the result of a science experiment that produces a large amount of foamy substance that resembles toothpaste.

The experiment uses hydrogen peroxide, which is broken down into water and oxygen by an enzyme called catalase. When the hydrogen peroxide is mixed with soap and food coloring, it creates a colorful foam that looks like toothpaste.

While the experiment is safe for kids to try at home, it’s important to supervise since hydrogen peroxide can be harmful if ingested.

Elephant toothpaste is a fun and safe way to introduce kids to the science of chemical reactions.

Why Do the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment?

Science is all around us, and it’s important to learn about the world we live in! But science doesn’t have to be boring.

Science is one of the most fascinating subjects out there- there’s something truly intriguing about discovering how the world works. And yet, science can often be seen as daunting and difficult, especially for younger kids.

That’s why it’s so important to make science fun! There are tons of great benefits that come from doing fun activities like the elephant toothpaste experiment.

For one, science activities like the elephant toothpaste project can help kids to develop crucial critical thinking skills. By working through different problems and experiments, kids learn how to identify a question, gather evidence, and form a conclusion. This process of scientific inquiry is an incredibly important life skill that will serve them well in school and in the real world.

Encouraging kids to explore and experiment fosters creativity. With the elephant toothpaste science project, kids can learn that there can be multiple ways to approach a problem and discover solutions through trial and error. This nurtures their innovative thinking.

Additionally, an activity like the elephant toothpaste science experiment can be a great way for kids to learn about cooperation and teamwork. This kind of experiment requires kids to work together in order to be successful, which helps them to build key social skills.

These experiments are also incredibly engaging, instantly capturing a child’s attention and curiosity. The visual and interactive nature of the experiment with the giant foaming reaction makes learning exciting and engaging, motivating kids to participate actively.

Successfully executing an experiment like this can inspire a lifelong interest in science. A child who has a blast creating a chemical reaction today with this project might be inspired to pursue a career in chemistry or related fields in the future.

The Elephant Toothpaste Experiment, in particular, showcases the spectacular nature of science and always leaves a lasting impression on young minds. The vibrant, eye-catching foam eruption isn’t just a visual treat but also a gateway to understanding the principles of chemical reactions, demonstrating how science can be both educational and entertaining.

And finally, the elephant toothpaste experiment is just plain fun! It’s a great way for kids to explore their natural curiosity and discover new and exciting things about the world around them.

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How To Make Elephant Toothpaste

How to make elephant toothpaste | fun science experiment tutorial.

Create toothpaste made for an elephant by making a chemical reaction using hydrogen peroxide and yeast. When adding the two mixtures together the explosion of foam looks like toothpaste being squeezed right out of a tube.

Make sure to have a space ready to get messy and cameras ready for this one!

• Clean 16oz Plastic Bottle (like an empty water or juice bottle)
• 1/2 Cup Hydrogen Peroxide (the stronger, the better)
• 10 Drops of Food Coloring
• 3 TBS Warm Water
• 1 TBS Yeast
• Cup for Mixing
• Safety Goggles
• Towels for Clean up

Instructions

• Pour ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide into the plastic bottle.

• Gently swirl ingredients in the plastic bottle.

• Prepare your camera!

• Watch elephant toothpaste explode!

Elephant Toothpaste Tips and Tricks

When it comes to hydrogen peroxide, the stronger your chemical, the bigger your explosion.

• 3% hydrogen peroxide: found at pharmacies; small reaction
• 20-volume hydrogen peroxide: found at beauty supply stores; medium reaction
• 40-volume hydrogen peroxide:  found at beauty supply stores; big reaction The hydrogen peroxide can irate skin so please be careful and take precautions as needed. 

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Did you try this yourself?

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Follow Up Questions And Activities

Follow up your elephant toothpaste science experiment with these questions and activities!

• Why do different percentages of hydrogen peroxide produce different reactions?
• What creates the heat?
• Could the amount of yeast change the reaction size?
• What would happen if we added the yeast without mixing it in the water?

Activities:

• Research other chemical reactions
• Research toothpaste and how it’s made
• Repeat the elephant toothpaste experiment with multiple strengths of hydrogen peroxide so you can compare and contrast side-by-side

What Makes Elephant Toothpaste Explode? The Science Behind This Experiment

The elephant toothpaste science experiment is often used to illustrate the power of enzymes.

When you add hydrogen peroxide to soap, it creates a frothy mixture that is full of bubbles. There is an enzyme in the yeast which helps break down the hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water.

In the experiment, yeast is used to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The oxygen is then trapped by the soap, resulting in the formation of foam.

The foamy mixture expands rapidly, creating an effect that resembles a stream of toothpaste from an elephant’s trunk.

While the science behind this experiment is relatively simple, it can be used to create a spectacular display that is sure to amaze anyone who sees it. With a little bit of planning, you can easily create your own elephant toothpaste experiment at home.

And if you run into any problems or have any questions about this experiment, just reach out by commenting below and we’ll help you out.

Want More Experiments Delivered to Your Inbox?

Once you’ve finished the elephant toothpaste science experiment, you’ll probably be looking for more STEM activities to do with your kids. Check out our   STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription . Every single month, you’ll get 5 brand new, exclusive STEM project guides, complete with worksheets, step-by-step instructions, and additional resources to give you plenty of educational activities to enjoy with your kids.

Scientific Method Worksheets – Free Download

Before you move on, we’ve got some free scientific method worksheets for you to download and enjoy. These printable worksheets are useful for any science experiment, science project, STEM challenge, or STEM projects your students might be engaging in.

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August 1, 2019

Make Elephant Toothpaste

A bubbly science project from Science Buddies

By Science Buddies & Ben Finio

Squeeze some science: Use a little kitchen chemistry to make a fountain of "toothpaste" almost big enough for an elephant's brush!

George Retseck

Key Concepts Chemistry Biology Reaction Catalyst Surface tension

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 H 2 O 2 ). 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. 

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When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it turns into oxygen (O 2 ) and water (H 2 O). 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!

Empty plastic bottle

Dry yeast (found in the baking section of the grocery store)

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. 

More to Explore Enzymes, Foam and Hydrogen Peroxide , from Science Buddies Exploring Enzymes , from Scientific American The Liver: Helping Enzymes Help You , from Scientific American Erupting Diet Coke with Mentos , from Science Buddies Yeast Alive! Watch Yeast Live and Breathe , from Scientific American STEM Activities for Kids , from Science Buddies 

This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies

Elephant toothpaste

If an elephant used toothpaste, this is probably what it'd look like! Learn about chemical reactions by watching this heat-producing mixture bubble and overflow for up to half an hour. The experiment comes from pages of the Nat Geo Kids book Try This! Extreme .

DON'T FORGET YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT: safety goggles, lab apron, nitrile gloves

Stand the soda bottle in a pan.

Insert funnel in neck of soda bottle.

Add ½ cup peroxide, detergent, and food coloring.

UM, DID YOU SEE THE WARNING ABOVE? Check it out again!

In measuring cup, beaker, or plastic cup, combine yeast and warm water. Combine with plastic spoon.

Pour yeast mixture into soda bottle and remove funnel.

WARNING: In case you missed it the first time, avoid touching or getting the chemicals on skin or clothing. And don't get too close, as heat and steam can be dangerous.

WHAT'S GOING ON

Hydrogen peroxide normally decomposes (breaks down into separate elements), and combining it with detergent and yeast (a catalyst) speeds up the process.

As the oxygen emanates from the reaction, it creates bubbles. The detergent speeds up the foaming. The reaction is "exothermic," meaning it produces heat as well as steam.

WARNING:  This experiment uses chemicals that can irritate skin and damage clothes, so make sure to use safety goggles, lab apron, and nitrile gloves. Avoid touching or getting the chemicals on skin or clothing. And don't get too close, as heat and steam can be dangerous.

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Science News Explores

Level up your demonstration: make it an experiment.

With a few tweaks — and many replications — any demonstration can become an experiment

Simple chemistry can make fountains of foam. If you want to do an experiment, though, you’ll need to make more than one.

SDI Productions/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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• Google Classroom

By Bethany Brookshire

April 27, 2021 at 6:30 am

Science demonstrations can be real crowd pleasers. In fact, Camille Schrier won the 2020 Miss America crown after performing a science demonstration during the talent portion of the competition. On stage, she mixed common chemicals to create massive mountains of steaming foam — a trick often called “elephant toothpaste.” It wowed the judges. But as she said when she performed it, this was a demonstration. It wasn’t an experiment. But you can turn that, or any demonstration, into an experiment.

Start by finding a hypothesis . This a statement that you can test. How do you find a hypothesis? You can begin by learning more about how a specific scientific demonstration works. By breaking it down into its parts, you might be able to find a statement to test. And from there, you can design your experiment.

Elephant toothpaste explained

Let’s look at the elephant toothpaste demonstration . There are four ingredients: hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, food coloring and a catalyst. Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a chemical people can use to clean wounds or surfaces and bleach them. It slowly breaks down when exposed to light, forming water and oxygen

This is where the catalyst comes in. A catalyst is something that speeds up a chemical reaction. In the elephant toothpaste experiment, yeast or potassium iodide can be used as a catalyst. Either will cause the hydrogen peroxide to break down very quickly.

The dish soap and food coloring aren’t needed for the reaction. But they create the show. As hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen, the dish soap will catch the liquid and gas to form bubbles. It’s the source of the foam. The food coloring gives the foam its bright color.

Now that we know what’s happening, we can start asking questions. How much hydrogen peroxide should you use? How much catalyst? How much dish soap? Those are all good questions. In fact, they’re each the beginning of a hypothesis.  

Let’s focus on hydrogen peroxide. If the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into the water and oxygen that power the foam, then perhaps more hydrogen peroxide would produce more foam. That gives us a hypothesis: More hydrogen peroxide will produce more foam .

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Demo to experiment

We can now design an experiment to test that hypothesis. First, identify the variable that you will be testing. Here, our hypothesis is about hydrogen peroxide. So the experiment needs to change the proportion of hydrogen peroxide in the elephant toothpaste.

An experiment also needs a control — a part of the experiment where nothing changes. The control could be no hydrogen peroxide (and no foam). The experiment could then test different amounts of hydrogen peroxide to see which produces the most foam.

You will have to measure the outcome of any experiment. For elephant toothpaste, you might measure the height of the foam using video recordings. Or you could measure the mass of your container before and after the reaction, to see how much foam exploded out. This would be different for every experiment. For an experiment involving plants, you could measure plant height or the size of any fruit. When growing rock candy, you could weigh the final product .

Running the experiment just once isn’t enough. You need to repeat it many times , step by step, over and over. Any single result could have been due to some accident. Repeating the experiment again and again cuts the chance you will see a difference by mistake. Write down all the results very carefully. It helps to keep a lab notebook .

Finally, you will want to compare results. This may mean running statistical tests on your data. These are mathematical tests that can help you interpret your findings. They might show you that more hydrogen peroxide does indeed produce more elephant toothpaste. Or the results might show something else. Maybe there’s just the right amount of hydrogen peroxide, and too much doesn’t produce any more foam.

If you want to find out, though, don’t do a demonstration. Test it through an experiment.

For more ideas, check out our experiments collection . We’ve made experiments out of the five-second rule , baking soda volcanoes , sneezing out snot and much more.

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Investigating Phenomena: What Is Elephant Toothpaste?

Carolina Phenomenon

Phenomena-driven science! Phenomena are observable, naturally occurring events that are everywhere and spark student questions and investigations. Ask students to observe the DCI-linked phenomenon in the video and complete the attached student sheet prior to remote learning discussions.

Observations: Carefully watch the elephant toothpaste (catalyst impact reaction rate) video. Gather all the evidence you can from the video, and write down everything you observe.

Generate Questions: What evidence is there of a chemical reaction? How did the addition of the white chemical affect the reaction? What causes the bubbles in the foam? Where did the “smoke” in the background come from, and what is it? What energy transformations take place? Was there a temperature change, and if so, what caused it?

Research (include sources):

Final Explanation: Use a written explanation, graphic, or flow chart to present your final explanation for the elephant toothpaste.

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Science Bob

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more in 10-12 years

Fantastic foamy fountain.

More science videos on Science Bob’s YouTube Channel

You will need.

• A clean 16 ounce (473 ml) plastic soda bottle or a water bottle.
• 20-Volume hydrogen peroxide liquid (20-volume is a 6% solution that is stronger than what you find in most pharmacies. It is typically used for lightening hair and is found at many beauty supply stores. You can use the 3% hydrogen peroxide found in pharmacies, but the reaction will be a bit smaller)
• 1 Tablespoon (15ml –  one packet) of dry yeast
• 3+ Tablespoons (15 ml) of warm water
• Liquid dishwashing soap
• Food coloring
• Safety goggles

NOTE: The foam could overflow from the bottle, so be sure to do this experiment on a washable surface, or place the bottle on a tray.

CAUTION: The unreacted hydrogen peroxide can irritate skin and eyes. Read the safety information on the hydrogen peroxide bottle and be sure to wear safety goggles.

• Use a funnel to carefully pour 3/4 cup (180 ml) of the hydrogen peroxide liquid into the bottle
• Add about 10 drops of your favorite food coloring into the bottle.
• Add about 1 tablespoon (15ml) of liquid dish soap into the bottle and swish the bottle around a bit to mix it.
• In a separate small cup, combine the warm water and the yeast together and mix for about 30 seconds. It should be about the consistency of melted ice cream – add a bit more warm water if needed.
• Now the adventure starts! Use the funnel to pour the yeast-water mixture into the bottle and watch the foaminess begin!

Can I touch the foam? The reaction typically breaks down the hydrogen peroxide so you are left with mostly just soapy water and yeast. There can, however, be un-reacted peroxide which could irritate skin and eyes. For that reason, it is recommended you do not touch the foam.

(If you use the 3% hydrogen peroxide found in most pharmacies, then the foam can be touched safely.)

How does it work?

Foam is awesome! The foam you made in this classic Elephant’s Toothpaste reaction is extra-special because each tiny foam bubble is filled with oxygen. The yeast acted as a catalyst; a catalyst is used to speed up a reaction.  It quickly broke apart the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Because it did this very fast, it created lots and lots of bubbles. Did you notice the bottle got warm? Your experiment created a reaction called an Exothermic Reaction – that means it not only created foam, it created heat! The foam produced is just water, soap, and oxygen so you can clean it up with a sponge and pour any extra liquid left in the bottle down the drain.

This experiment is sometimes called “Elephant’s Toothpaste” because it looks like toothpaste coming out of a tube, but don’t get the foam in your mouth!

Make it an experiment:

The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

• Does the amount of yeast change the amount of foam produced?
• Will the experiment work as well if you add the dry yeast without mixing it with water?
• Does the size of the bottle affect the amount of foam produced?

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Elephant's Toothpaste

Elephant toothpaste.

This demonstrations is called Elephant’s Toothpaste because the chemical reaction produces a large foamy mess that looks like toothpaste squirting out of a tube. It is so big that only an elephant could use toothpaste this large. It is, of course, not toothpaste so please do not try to brush your teeth with it! The kids safe version below is harmless but certainly wouldn’t taste very good.

Our EXTREME Scientists do the Elephant’s Toothpaste demonstration in our  Extreme Science Theater  located on the lower level of the science center. So if you want to see it again just come on in!

What is Elephant Toothpaste?

This large demonstration uses hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), sodium iodide (NaI) and soap. First we pour in the hydrogen peroxide, then the soap and finally the sodium iodide.

The hydrogen peroxide used in the demonstration is 30% hydrogen peroxide. This is 10 times stronger than the hydrogen peroxide that you have in your medicine cabinet. That is usually 3% hydrogen peroxide, and your local salon probably uses 6%. The 30% hydrogen peroxide is not something you would put on a cut or scrape, but it works perfectly for this demonstration. The sodium iodide reacts with the hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) by removing an oxygen atom. This essentially produces water and oxygen gas (H 2 O + O2). The oxygen gas produced gets trapped in the soap which produces the big ball of foam. The reaction produces oxygen gas, water and iodine. That is why the foam has a yellow color. If you were to touch this foam, your hand would be stained yellow just as if you put iodine on your skin.

Since you can’t get these materials at home we have a Kids Safe version of this demonstration that you can do at home or in the classroom! Do this at your next family night, slumber party or birthday party. It is fun, safe and cool to watch.

Kid-Safe Elephant Toothpaste

What you need:

12 oz plastic bottle

hydrogen peroxide (3%)

baking sheet

What to do:

Prepare yeast solution by adding dry yeast to warm water and wait a few minutes until it becomes frothy.

Pour 2 inches of hydrogen peroxide (3%) into the bottle.

Place bottle on baking sheet.

Squeeze in a good squirt of dish soap.

Pour in yeast solution (3 tablespoons).

The Science:

The yeast contains an enzyme called Catalase that breaks down hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) into oxygen gas and water. The oxygen gas gets trapped by the soap, and you get a large foamy solution that squirts out of the top of the bottle!

The cool thing about this activity is that the enzyme Catalase can also be found in potatoes, dogs and even us! We have the same enzyme in our bodies. That is why you see the 3% hydrogen peroxide bubble when you put it on a cut or scrape. The oxygen released is what kills the germs in the cut. We have this enzyme because we naturally produce low amounts hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct of oxidative metabolism (the way that a cell gains useful energy). Our cells need energy, but low amounts of hydrogen peroxide are produced and need to be neutralized through enzymes like Catalase.