9 May 2019
In our Up and Atom Science Club for years 3-4 this week, we did a classic fun experiment known as 'Elephant's toothpaste'.
The first essential was safety glasses on, then we could prepare the two mixtures needed. The boys carefully poured some hydrogen peroxide into a drinks bottle, adding washing up liquid and food colouring and gently swirling it together. Then we added yeast solution, and waited for the reaction to happen. It soon made masses and masses of foam which looks just like toothpaste coming out of the tube!
The hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen (the soap makes the bubbles). We also noted how the reaction generated heat, as the bottles got warm. (Note: this experiment should only be done under adult supervision and wearing safety glasses; hydrogen peroxide is an irritant to skin and eyes.)
