Elephant Toothpaste

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment

The Elephant Toothpaste experiment is an awesome science activity that makes a huge, foamy mess. It’s called “Elephant Toothpaste” because it looks like a giant tube of toothpaste squeezing out — maybe enough for an elephant! It’s really fun to do, but there are some safety steps to keep in mind.

Safety Warnings

Hydrogen peroxide (the main ingredient) can be pretty strong, so be careful. Here are some things to remember:

• Wear gloves to protect your skin, and try to wear safety goggles to keep it out of your eyes.

• Do this experiment in a space where it’s okay to make a mess (outside or on a big tray).

• Don’t eat or drink anything from the experiment, and wash your hands afterward.

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup of 6% hydrogen peroxide (can be found in some hair products or science kits)

• 1 tablespoon of dish soap

Image Credit: Ben Finio, Science Buddies / Science Buddies

• Food coloring (if you want to make it colorful)

• 1 packet of dry yeast (or about 1 tablespoon)

• 3 tablespoons of warm water

• A plastic bottle or tall container

• A tray to catch the foam overflow

Steps

1. Get your bottle ready by adding in the hydrogen peroxide. Put it on the tray so it can catch the foam.

2. Add color (optional). Add a few drops of food coloring to the bottle of hydrogen peroxide if you want your foam to be a fun color.

3. Mix in the dish soap. Add 1 tablespoon of dish soap to the bottle and gently swirl it around to mix.

4. Activate the yeast. In a small cup, mix the packet of yeast with warm water and stir it for about 30 seconds. The yeast will make the reaction happen faster.

5. Pour and watch! Quickly pour the yeast mixture into the bottle and step back. The foam will start to bubble up and out of the bottle!

What’s Happening Here?

This is a chemical reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and the yeast. The yeast makes the hydrogen peroxide break down, releasing oxygen gas (air). The soap traps the gas in bubbles, which turns into a big foam explosion. It’s a fun way to see how certain things react when they mix. Plus, watching the foam shoot out of the bottle is really cool!

About the Author

Ronan is a senior at Northwood High School. He enjoys English and science classes, and likes to bowl in his free time.

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Science Bob. (n.d.). Elephant toothpaste experiment. Science Bob. https://www.sciencebob.com/elephant-toothpaste-experiment

Spangler, S. (n.d.). Elephant toothpaste experiment. Steve Spangler Science. https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/elephant-toothpaste/