Can elephant toothpaste go down the drain?

Can elephant toothpaste go down the drain?

The foam produced is safe to touch and can be poured down the sink but you (and student helpers) should wear dishwashing gloves and safety goggles as a precaution and as standard practice when handling chemicals.

Is it OK to touch elephant toothpaste?

It is safe to touch because all that foam is just soap, water and oxygen. Let your kids have some fun with the foam too. Just be sure to have a towel handy!

Is elephant toothpaste irreversible?

Students observe the mixture of yeast, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide, creating a irreversible chemical change known as “elephant toothpaste.” Students then plan and conduct an investigation to determine how changes to the mixture affect the outcomes of the reaction.

Is elephant toothpaste hazardous?

Hydrogen peroxide, 30% will act as an oxidizing agent with practically any substance. This substance is severely corrosive to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; a very strong oxidant; and a dangerous fire and explosion risk. Do not heat this substance. Sodium iodide is slightly toxic by ingestion.

What is the best catalyst for elephant toothpaste?

Elephant’s toothpaste is a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium iodide or yeast and warm water as a catalyst.

Is elephant toothpaste really toothpaste?

This foam looks like a giant squeeze of toothpaste—almost big enough for an elephant! Put on your safety glasses to do this activity because hydrogen peroxide can irritate your eyes. (Note: although the product of this activity resembles toothpaste, it is not toothpaste, so do not attempt to use it!)

Why is it called elephant toothpaste?

Elephant Toothpaste. This demonstrations is called Elephant’s Toothpaste because the chemical reaction produces a large foamy mess that looks like toothpaste squirting out of a tube. It is so big that only an elephant could use toothpaste this large.

What’s the best container for elephant toothpaste?

You can easily use the elephant toothpaste reaction as a holiday chemistry demonstration. Just add green food coloring to the peroxide and detergent mixture and pour the two solutions into a Christmas tree-shaped container. A good choice is an Erlenmeyer flask because it has a cone shape.

What is the conclusion of elephant toothpaste?

What is the conclusion of the elephant toothpaste experiment? Our hypothesis stated that the trial using the 30% solution would be the fastest and it was proven correct. It was the fastest because it had more pure hydrogen peroxide making it have more oxygen when broken down and pushing the foam out faster.

How to make elephant toothpaste for your kids?

Kid-Safe Elephant Toothpaste. Prepare yeast solution by adding dry yeast to warm water and wait a few minutes until it becomes frothy. Pour 2 inches of hydrogen peroxide (3%) into the bottle. Place bottle on baking sheet. Squeeze in a good squirt of dish soap. Pour in yeast solution (3 tablespoons). …

How do you clean elephant toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide?

Place your plastic bottle on the tray or tub so that it is easy to clean up all the foam. Measure 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and carefully pour it into the bottle. Add a big squirt of dish soap into the bottle, and swirl gently to mix.

What makes elephant’s toothpaste a foamy substance?

Elephant’s toothpaste is a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium permangamate or potassium iodide as a catalysts. This experiment shows the catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

How does sodium iodide work in elephant toothpaste?

How Does It Work. The secret ingredient is actually sodium iodide, which acts as a catalyst (something that speeds up a chemical reaction, and in this case, it’s the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide). When hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) decomposes, it breaks down to form water (H 2 O) and oxygen (O 2 ).