What is the secret ingredient in elephant toothpaste?
The secret ingredient is actually sodium iodide, which acts as a catalyst (something that speeds up a chemical reaction, and in this case, it’s the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide). When hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes, it breaks down to form water (H2O) and oxygen (O2).
How do you make Australian elephant toothpaste?
Elephant Toothpaste
- An empty soft drink bottle (600mL size works best)
- cup of 6% hydrogen peroxide solution (purchased from a hairdresser/beauty supply store or chemist)
- Squirt of dishwashing liquid.
- 4 drops of food colouring.
- 1 teaspoon of dry bakers yeast dissolved in approximately 2 tablespoons of warm/hot water.
- Funnel.
Can I make elephant toothpaste with 3 hydrogen peroxide?
What is Elephant Toothpaste? This large demonstration uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium iodide (NaI) and soap. 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.
Can you use bleach for elephant toothpaste?
Please follow all directions on the Hydrogen Peroxide bottle and exercise caution when handling as the concentration used will bleach clothes and can irritate/burn skin.
Can you pour elephant toothpaste down the sink?
The foam produced is safe to touch and can be poured down the sink but you (and student helpers) should wear dishwashing gloves and safety goggles as a precaution and as standard practice when handling chemicals. Use a funnel to pour 125 ml (roughly half a cup) of 6% hydrogen peroxide into the empty soft drink bottle.
Why is it called 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.
What are the procedures for making elephant toothpaste?
Elephant Toothpaste Procedure Put on gloves and safety glasses. Pour ~50 mL of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution into the graduated cylinder. Squirt in a little dishwashing detergent and swirl it around. You can place 5-10 drops of food coloring along the wall of the cylinder to make the foam resemble striped toothpaste. Add ~10 mL of potassium iodide solution.
What is the formula for elephant toothpaste?
The activity is called ’Elephant’s Toothpaste’ because the large stream of foam looks like toothpaste that is big enough for an elephant! Hydrogen peroxide is a molecule made up of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms. It can be expressed using the chemical formula, 2H 2O 2.
What are the results of elephant toothpaste?
The original elephant toothpaste reaction, which uses a much higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide, can cause both chemical burns and physical burns . The light version uses chemicals that are safe for children to touch. Nevertheless, the lower concentration of peroxide can till discolor fabrics.
What is the hypothesis of elephant toothpaste experiment?
Elephant toothpaste experiment. My hypothesis is that the reaction will have a greater production of bubbles when used with the 3 oz dish soap. This is my hypothesis because the dehydration of hydrogen peroxide produces oxygen, which makes the dish soap foam up.