Elephant Toothpaste
Witness the dramatic exothermic reaction when hydrogen peroxide rapidly decomposes into water and oxygen gas, creating a foamy substance that resembles toothpaste big enough for an elephant!
When the reaction starts, you'll see rapid foam formation as oxygen gas is released, accompanied by heat (exothermic).
The Science Behind Elephant Toothpaste
The reaction decomposes hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into water (H₂O) and oxygen gas (O₂):
2H₂O₂ → 2H₂O + O₂
The yeast acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction without being consumed.
The dish soap in the mixture traps the oxygen gas bubbles, creating the foam. The reaction is exothermic, releasing heat that you can feel.
This demonstrates principles used in rocket propulsion (rapid gas production), cleaning products (oxygen-based cleaners), and biological processes (how enzymes work).
