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Elephant Toothpaste: Foamy Science Experiment

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This fantastic foamy fountain science experiment, also called Elephant Toothpaste is SO very much fun! We did this experiment years ago and I decided it was time to revisit it with my younger kids.

elephant toothpaste

We decided to try it with with both regular hydrogen peroxide and the 6% solution at the same time and compare the difference. In our images, the red is with the stronger solution and the blue is with the regular hydrogen peroxide.

Watch the Video of us Making Elephant Toothpaste

You have got to try this fun elephant toothpaste experiment with your kids.  It’s amazing to see the the simple chemical reactions you can make from things in your own house!

Ingredients for Elephant Toothpaste Experiment:

elephant toothpaste experiment

A clean empty plastic bottle- we used glass milk bottles
1/2 cup 6% solution hydrogen peroxide liquid (also called 20-volume hydrogen peroxide)
1 Tablespoon (one packet) of dry yeast
3 Tablespoons of warm water
1 Tbsp liquid dish soap
Liquid food coloring
Safety Goggles- if you have them!

How To Do the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment:

First, a note about the Hydrogen peroxide: You need a 6% solution. You can get this from a beauty supply store or on Amazon. This time we tried it with both the regular 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and with the 6% solution side by side so my kids could see the difference between the two.

This experiment can also be done with 20 volume or 40 volume peroxide. However, if you use the higher strength, I recommend doing it as a demonstration without kids touching. It can be more dangerous with the stronger chemicals and the heat reaction gets much hotter.

As you can see from the pictures, foam will overflow from the bottle, so be sure to do this experiment on a washable surface, place the bottle(s) on a tray or in a large tub that can contain the mess.

Pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle. Then add about 10 drops of food coloring into the bottle.

Next you will mix in 1 Tbsp. of liquid dish soap into the bottle and swish the bottle around a bit to mix it. This will create more foam in the reaction.

elephant toothpaste experiment

In a separate small cup, combine the warm water and the yeast together and mix with a spoon for about 30 seconds.

Lastly, pour the yeast mixture into the bottle (a funnel helps here) and watch the foaminess begin!

Make it in a larger quantity and use large a 2 liter plastic soda bottle!

How Does the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment Work?

Hydrogen peroxide is a solution we often use to clean our cuts. It kills bacteria on wounds. It is a liquid that is made up of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms. It’s chemical formula is H2O2. When it comes in contact with bacteria called catalase, it bubbles and reacts. Since most of our tissues and the cells of most living things have this enzyme it it, the peroxide bubbles on our skin.

Yeast has this special chemical or enzyme in it called catalase.  It acts as a catalyst (a helper) to breakdown the hydrogen peroxide. Each tiny bubble made in this foamy experiment is filled with oxygen gas.  It is removing the oxygen atoms from the hydrogen peroxide. Since it reacts very quickly, it creates lots and lots of bubbles.

These bubbles would pop quickly and just escape from the liquid. We add dish soap to create surface tension.  This traps those oxygen bubbles and create all of the foam that pours out of the bottle.

science experiment- elephant toothpaste

id you notice the bottle got warm. My kids said this when they touched the foam. This experiment created a reaction called an Exothermic Reaction.  An Exothermic reaction creates heat!

This experiment is called “Elephant’s Toothpaste” because it looks like toothpaste coming out of a tube, but don’t get the foam in your mouth! It is definitely not edible.

See More Awesome Projects in my new book: Science Art & Drawing Games for Kids

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