🧴 Elephant Toothpaste: The Chemistry Behind the Foam 🐘✨

Materials 🛠️

• 16 oz (500 ml) plastic bottle 🍼

• 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (10-12% concentration for a bigger reaction) 🧴

• 1 tbsp dry yeast 🍞

• 2 tbsp warm water 💧

• Liquid dish soap 🧼

• Food coloring (optional) 🌈

• Tray or protective surface for the foam to land on 🧻

• Gloves and safety goggles 🧤😎

  Steps 📝

  1. Prepare the bottle: Place the plastic bottle on a tray to catch the foam 🧃. Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the bottle 🧴.

  2. Add soap: Add a generous squirt of dish soap into the bottle 🧼. Swirl to mix 🌀.

  3. Prepare the yeast solution: In a separate container, mix the warm water and yeast 🍞. Let it activate for a minute ⏱️.

  4. Activate the reaction: Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle and step back quickly! 🏃‍♀️💨 Watch the foam surge out of the bottle 📸.

  5. Observe the reaction: See the foam quickly form and overflow 🎈.

     What’s Happening? 🔬
     The magic behind the foam lies in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) gas 🌬️. The yeast acts as a catalyst, speeding up the process ⏩, while the soap traps the oxygen gas 🧼💨, forming bubbles 🫧. The reaction is exothermic (it releases heat 🔥).

     • The oxygen gas forces the foam out of the bottle, creating the explosive bubbles 💥.

     • The foam is a mixture of oxygen and soap, which can expand up to 10 times the original volume 🤯.

       Applications 🌍

       • This reaction is a great way to demonstrate catalysts in chemistry 🔬.

       • The catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is used in various industrial processes ⚙️.

       • Similar reactions are used for cleaning, as hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant 🧼.

       Safety Tips ⚠️

       • Always wear safety goggles and gloves 🧤😎 as hydrogen peroxide can irritate skin and eyes 👀.

       • Keep the reaction in a well-ventilated area 🌬️ since oxygen is released.

       • Don’t ingest the foam—while it’s non-toxic, it may cause irritation 🚫.