Create Your Own Elephant Toothpaste Experiment with Mr. Bond's Science Guys!

Get ready to blow your mind with one of the most epic science experiments you can do at home: Elephant Toothpaste! Thanks to the team at Mr. Bond's Science Guys, known for their thrilling science camps, clubs, and after-school programs, you can bring this bubbling, foaming reaction to life with just a few materials. Let's dive into the science behind this experiment and learn how you can recreate it at home safely.

What You'll Need:

Before we get started, gather the following materials:

·         Safety goggles and gloves – safety first!

·         Hydrogen Peroxide (3% for a mild reaction, or 30% for a more dramatic one – adults only!)

·         Potassium Iodide (dissolved in distilled water)

·         Dish soap

·         Food coloring

·         A funnel

·         A large container (plastic bottles work great).

Experiment Steps:

1.      Add Hydrogen Peroxide:

Pour the hydrogen peroxide into your container. This is the key ingredient that drives the experiment.

2.      Add Dish Soap:

Pour in a generous amount of dish soap. This traps the oxygen gas released during the reaction and creates the foam.

3.      Add Food Coloring:

Add a few drops of food coloring for a fun, vibrant effect. Place them in one spot for stripes or spread them around for a colorful burst.

4.      Prepare the Catalyst:

Dissolve potassium iodide in distilled water. This acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction.

5.      Pour in the Catalyst:

Quickly pour the potassium iodide solution into the container with hydrogen peroxide, soap, and coloring. Then step back and watch the magic!

What's Happening? The Science Behind the Experiment

This experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction known as the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

The Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is made up of water (H₂O) and an extra oxygen atom (O). The potassium iodide acts as a catalyst, speeding up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.

The Reaction: When the potassium iodide is added, it causes the hydrogen peroxide to release oxygen gas rapidly. This oxygen gas gets trapped in the dish soap, creating bubbles that expand into a foamy eruption.

Exothermic Reaction: You'll notice the foam is warm to the touch. That's because this is an exothermic reaction, which means it releases heat!

Experiment Tips for Bigger Fun

Bottle Shape Matters: Using a container with a narrow neck, like a soda bottle, will create a more explosive eruption as the foam is forced upwards.

Experiment with Concentration: Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide create more dramatic reactions. Just be sure to handle these carefully and with adult supervision!

Learn More:

Ready for more explosive science experiments? Check out Mr. Bond's Science Guys on YouTube for amazing demos, tips, and fun projects you can try at home. Whether it's in our after-school programs, science camps, or online videos, we make learning science fun, cool, easy, and safe!