", "Elephant Toothpaste: A Hydrogen Peroxide Chemistry Experiment", "NASA Engineer Sets Elephant Toothpaste Fountain World Record", "YouTuber Mark Rober throws birthday party for Rocky River boy with brain cancer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elephant%27s_toothpaste&oldid=1134755182, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing more detailed references, Pages that use a deprecated format of the chem tags, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 12:56. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? They are small, pill looking tablets that contain multiple ingredients to keep your teeth clean and your breath fresh. It was super detailed and gave me really good suggestions and warnings! So all you need to do is find ingredients that are antibacterial and non-threatening to your teeth (looking at you, sugar!). They come out the end of a pipe somewhere usually in one of our vital waterways and if your toothpaste's ingredients arent safe for the planet, they can cause significant harm. Unauthorized use is prohibited. In our experiment the hydrogen peroxide has low concentration, nevertheless it can still discolor fabrics. With Delta Dental estimating that the average American uses 20 gallons of toothpaste throughout their lifetime, using an environmentally friendly toothpaste is crucial. If we don't even know what's in our toothpaste, how can we be sure it's good for our teeth and health? The original elephant toothpaste reaction used a higher level of hydrogen peroxide and could result in both thermal and chemical burns. By following these guidelines, you can safely enjoy this fun and exciting science demonstration! One makes a giant mountain of foam, while the other produces a smaller effect but is safe enough for kids to touch. It's bad enough that we are wasting our food by tossing it into landfills, but we are also wasting other things that have larger consequences on our environment. After allowing the foam to cool for a few minutes, you and your kids may touch the foam with gloves on. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. By using our site, you agree to our. Please leave a comment below. For tips on adjustments you can make to get other effects, read on! And don't get too close, as heat and steam can be dangerous. What is the purpose of the Elephant Toothpaste experiment? Georganics also makes a toothpaste powder that turns into a paste when you add water. Their organic formulas are designed to improve dental health and include ingredients like baking soda, coconut oil, essential oils, and others. A small cup to hold your yeast and at least 3 tablespoons of warm water. Making elephant toothpaste is an easy and fun science experiment that you can do with your kids at home or with students in the lab. This substance contains phosphor, which builds up algae growth in both our sewage systems and in the water at the end of the sewage line. ScienceBob recommends using a tablespoon of dry yeast, or one packet. Pan or bowl to contain the foam. (AD) Try This Extreme: 50 Fun & Safe Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You, (AD) Make This! Uhas told Insider that he tried the experiment inside Dobrik's house, and the stained ceiling now rejects new coats of paint because the iodide seeps through. Above is what we considered to be an ideal small scale version of the experiment - we got height, good color, and it stayed laminar. Usually, this reaction is prolonged. The environmental problem with toothpaste tubes is a huge one. You can sop that up and recycle the plastic you put down, like Uhas and Dobrik did. Your dentist may also play a role in which toothpaste you choose; maybe your dentist has recommended a specific paste. The Elepanth's toothpaste experiment undergoes a hydrogen decomposition reaction into water and oxygen gas by yeast or potassium iodide which is the source of the catalase enzyme. Get science experiments, videos, articles, and more. Method. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes into water and oxygen gas, which is in the form of foam, but normally the reaction is too slow to be easily perceived or measured:[2]. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Learn about chemical reactions by watching this heat-producing mixture bubble and overflow for up to half an hour. This catalyst is potassium permanganate. For now, TerraCycle runs a recycling program for Colgate toothpaste tubes, boxes, toothbrushes, and floss packaging. Be careful. The experiment can also be used to show a chemical change. This poisonous substance remains in our soil for well over a year before it is fully degrades, meaning it is always present as more is constantly added. Don't put it in your mouth or swallow it. Add the dishwashing soap. Mosquito repellent. Firstly, take a high water container. [specify][2][3] A glowing splint can be used to show that the gas produced is oxygen. % of people told us that this article helped them. Those ingredients dont just disappear. Please be respectful of copyright. [10], YouTube science entertainer Mark Rober has created a variation of the experiment, named "Devil's Toothpaste", which has a far more pronounced reaction than the version usually performed in classroom settings. The potassium iodide in Uhas and Dobrik's experiment is a more powerful catalyst that produces an explosion effect, as opposed to the rising foam that filled Rober's pool. Most toothpaste tubes are plastic and are not easily recycled, as many municipalities do not have the prope2 equipment. Pour half a cupful of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle (more if you're using a larger bottle). There are a few things to keep in mind when using elephant toothpaste: -Make sure to use safety goggles to protect your eyes from the foam. 1 Tsp Biodegradable Glitter. The audience should be kept back to prevent them from getting any of the foam on them and to protect from the heat. This fantastic effect you can get by combining just four ingredients: water, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, and dish soap. The answer is complicated. These kinds of toothpaste are made of an actual paste, but their packaging is often recycled or made out of biodegradable material. If you have enough materials on hand, you can try different variations of the experiment like Rober did in his video or see how much foam you can produce by increasing the quantity of materials. UM, DID YOU SEE THE WARNING ABOVE? The ones when heat is produced. 30% hydrogen peroxide is added to a glass cylinder containing a concentrated aqueous mixture of potassium iodide and dishwashing soap. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid697964-v4-728px-Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"