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Do different strengths of hydrogen peroxide affect how much foam elephant toothpaste creates?

Troy Meserve

Masters

Physical Science

Period 3

12-1-20

Word Count: 651

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Troy Meserve

Masters Physical Science

Period 3

12-1-20

Do different strengths of hydrogen peroxide affect how much foam elephant toothpaste

creates?

People are amazed and fascinated at what happens when elephant toothpaste is created.

Elephant toothpaste has certain ingredients that react and create large amounts of foam.

Hydrogen peroxide is one ingredient that reacts with other ingredients which is why changing the

strength of hydrogen peroxide may change the foam output. Yeast is also an ingredient that helps

the reaction go faster because yeast acts like a catalyst. These ingredients are common household

items

To make elephant toothpaste, the needed materials are hydrogen peroxide, dry yeast,

warm water, liquid dish soap, and some food coloring (Home 1). To make elephant toothpaste

happen, the ingredients need to be put in a specific order. First, put the hydrogen peroxide, liquid

dish soap, and food coloring in the bottle mixed, then with a separate container, mix the warm

water and yeast. Finally, pour the mixture of yeast and water into the hydrogen peroxide, soap,

and food coloring together. Then watch the reaction unfold its beauty and awe (Youtubers 1).

The reason it's called elephant toothpaste is because it makes large amounts of foam that look

like toothpaste. It makes amounts of foam so big that it’s believed to be enough for an elephant

(Thinkstretch 1). Elephant toothpaste makes a good visual of a chemical reaction.

How does yeast act like a catalyst when elephant toothpaste takes action to form? First of

all, a catalyst is a material people use to increase the rate of a reaction of something, which in
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this case, elephant toothpaste (Elephant 1). Yeast is an organism which can act like a catalyst in

the reaction of elephant toothpaste by having a chemical called catalase which helps speed things

up. Yeast is added because hydrogen peroxide breaks down slowly, but yeast can speed it up

(Science 1). According to research, elephant toothpaste cannot react like it does without certain

ingredients.

Hydrogen peroxide is also an ingredient elephant toothpaste needs to form. Hydrogen

peroxide is a liquid made from oxygen and hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen peroxide can come in

different strengths or constraints (Science 1). This is also a main ingredient that affects the

reaction of elephant toothpaste. For example, 10 volume would be 3% hydrogen peroxide, 20

volume is 6% hydrogen peroxide, 40 volume is 12% hydrogen peroxide (Dziengel 1). The

stronger the strengths of hydrogen peroxide are, the worse they are to touch. These different

strengths are found in hair products. The different strengths are mainly used to lift hair color in

hair. Study shows that different strengths of hydrogen peroxide also affect elephant toothpaste

reactions.

An exothermic reaction is a result of the reaction that causes elephant toothpaste to form.

An exothermic reaction is a reaction that releases energy usually in forms of heat or light

(Exothermic 1). When elephant toothpaste happens, it creates a large amount of foam. That’s

because the dish soap traps the oxygen bubbles that were caused by the reaction. That happens so

fast that that’s the way it caused foam to form in big amounts (Elephant’s 1). The foam becomes

warm because an exothermic reaction releases a form of heat energy in this reaction. Since

elephant toothpaste creates so much foam, that’s why people of all ages love this experiment.

Do the different amounts of concentration levels of hydrogen peroxide affect the amount

of foam output? Hydrogen peroxide is the ingredient that is needed to make the foam. Hydrogen
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peroxide strengths can positively and negatively affect the amount of foam created. It is believed

that the higher concentration level is hydrogen peroxide may create more amounts of foam.

Different strengths of hydrogen peroxide does affect how much foam elephant toothpaste makes.
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Citation Pages

Dziengel, Ana. "Amazing Science: How To Make Elephant Toothpaste - Babble Dabble Do".

Babble Dabble Do,​ 2020,

https://babbledabbledo.com/amazing-science-how-to-make-elephant-toothpaste/

"Elephant Toothpaste". ​Cool Science Experiments Headquarters,​ 2020,

https://coolscienceexperimentshq.com/elephant-toothpaste/​.

"Elephant Toothpaste - Safe Easy World Record Recipe | Experiments | Steve Spangler Science".

The Lab,​ 2020, ​https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/elephants-toothpaste/​.

"Elephant's Toothpaste". ​Questacon - The National Science And Technology Centre,​ 2020,

https://www.questacon.edu.au/outreach/programs/science-circus/videos/elephants-toothpaste​.

"Exothermic And Endothermic Processes | Introduction To Chemistry".

Courses.Lumenlearning.Com​, 2020,

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/introchem/chapter/exothermic-and-endothermic-processes/#:~

:text=heat%20of%20reaction.%E2%80%9D-,Exothermic%20Reactions,total%20energy%20of​.

"Home Version Of Elephant Toothpaste!". ​Sciencebob.Com​, 2020,

https://sciencebob.com/fantastic-foamy-fountain/​.

"Youtubers Are Battling For The World Record Of Foam With The Elephant Toothpaste

Experiment. Here's How To Make A Smaller, Kid-Safe Version At Home.". ​Insider,​ 2020,

https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-elephant-toothpaste-experiment-at-home-2019-12#in-a-se

parate-cup-combine-dry-yeast-and-warm-water-for-the-at-home-catalyst-instead-of-the-po​.

Science Buddies, Ben Finio. "Make Elephant Toothpaste". ​Scientific American​, 2020,

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/make-elephant-toothpaste/​.
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"Thinkstretch - Elephant Toothpaste". ​Thinkstretch​, 2020,

https://thinkstretch.com/activity/elephant-toothpaste-2/​.

https://www.thoughtco.com/kid-friendly-elephant-toothpaste-demo-604164