DANGER – this project uses chemicals and will require an adult’s supervision!
This crazy science experiment is called Elephant’s Toothpaste. I’m not sure if it’s what elephants actually use to brush their teeth. Wait! Elephants are wild animals, they don’t have toothpaste! Whatever.
This is a simple and fun chemical reaction. There’s oxygen in hydrogen peroxide, that’s where the “oxide” comes from. The chemical name for hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. It has two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. One of the oxygen atoms is like one of those crazy little kids at the mall that are on a leash constantly trying to break free. The yeast, our catalyst, when added to the hydrogen peroxide, speeds up the reaction and cuts the leash, letting that crazy kid run wild.
When hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) loses one of its oxygen atoms, it becomes… H2O, which is just water. When we add the yeast it releases a bunch of the oxygen at once. When we add soap, it helps to catch all of the oxygen and create that cool bubble foam. The optional food coloring is to make the foam any color.
This is a simple and fun chemical reaction. There’s oxygen in hydrogen peroxide, that’s where the “oxide” comes from. The chemical name for hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. It has two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. One of the oxygen atoms is like one of those crazy little kids at the mall that are on a leash constantly trying to break free. The yeast, our catalyst, when added to the hydrogen peroxide, speeds up the reaction and cuts the leash, letting that crazy kid run wild.
When hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) loses one of its oxygen atoms, it becomes… H2O, which is just water. When we add the yeast it releases a bunch of the oxygen at once. When we add soap, it helps to catch all of the oxygen and create that cool bubble foam. The optional food coloring is to make the foam any color.
Materials:
*hydrogen peroxide $
*emptied 16-24 oz. water or soda bottle $
*dish soap $
*food coloring (optional)
* 1 teaspoon of yeast (dissolved in 2 tablespoons of warm water)
*emptied 16-24 oz. water or soda bottle $
*dish soap $
*food coloring (optional)
* 1 teaspoon of yeast (dissolved in 2 tablespoons of warm water)
Tools:
*funnel
*large, cleanable container (cake pan)
*safety glasses
*tarp or plastic drop cloth
*lab coat or a smock
*large, cleanable container (cake pan)
*safety glasses
*tarp or plastic drop cloth
*lab coat or a smock
Steps:
1. Get an adult to assist you. If they say “no,” butter them up by saying you like their jokes, they are always right, or you started to work on your college essays. Adults love hearing that stuff.
2. Go outside! Set up your plastic drop sheet on the driveway, clear of anything that could get damaged like your parent’s car or your mother’s favorite tomato plant.
3. Put on the safety glasses and lab coat or smock. Use a lab coat if you have one. You look smarter the moment you put it on.
4. Use the funnel to add 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide to the soda bottle.
5. Remove the funnel and add a drop of food coloring.
6. Add a squirt of dish soap.
7. Quickly add the yeast, then stand back and watch the reaction!
2. Go outside! Set up your plastic drop sheet on the driveway, clear of anything that could get damaged like your parent’s car or your mother’s favorite tomato plant.
3. Put on the safety glasses and lab coat or smock. Use a lab coat if you have one. You look smarter the moment you put it on.
4. Use the funnel to add 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide to the soda bottle.
5. Remove the funnel and add a drop of food coloring.
6. Add a squirt of dish soap.
7. Quickly add the yeast, then stand back and watch the reaction!
