Start Saving Now. Last Updated: August 29, 2022 Elephant toothpaste #3 - classic (Catalyst: not stated) This one is more a "classic". 50-100 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) solution (Note: This hydrogen peroxide solution is much more concentrated than the kind you . 1 ) 1/2 cup 20-volume hydrogen peroxide liquid (20-volume is a 6% solution, which can be found at a beauty supply store or hair salon) 2) 3 Tablespoons of warm water 3) Liquid dish washing soap 4) Food coloring 5) 1 Tablespoon Yeast. There is enough foam squirting out for an elephant to brush its teeth. Elephant toothpaste Ingredients: 1. Safety procedures in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide are minimal, but it is still very important to stay safe. Elephant Toothpaste is a fun and an extremely easy science experiment to do at home. For variables, use different percentages of hydrogen peroxide to see . Please leave a comment below. Check it out again! To make ScienceBob's at-home version, you'll need: Optionally, you can also put a plastic tarp down to catch all the foam. Maybe elephants don't like brushing their teeth because this toothpaste doesn't taste good to humans or animals. Enjoy! Make your own elephant toothpaste?! UM, DID YOU SEE THE WARNING ABOVE? Pour cup of peroxide into your 'toothpaste' container. To start, you just need to gather a few materials. ScienceBob suggests 10 drops of food coloring and about 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap to make the foam colorful. Leave for a couple of minutes while you get everything else ready. Probably you made it, therefore you can try to do it differently with different color food dyes. 1. INSTRUCTIONS: Step 1. All in all, Colgate as a brand seems to be trying to commit to sustainability. No, elephant toothpaste is not hazardous. A final example, but possibly the most extreme, is sodium pyrophosphate. This experiment is sometimes called "Elephant's Toothpaste" because it looks like toothpaste coming out of a tube but giant to fit an elephants size. Here are some tips for avoiding problems with elephant toothpaste: -Add the hydrogen peroxide to the soap first, then add the yeast. Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle (preferably using a funnel), remove the funnel and move back. Take a dish soap or whatever you have that proved to be a good foam-maker and add it to our solution from Step 2. You can also add glitter to make it more fun. It also produces oxygen gas, which is flammable . School of Fun Series - Learning Worksheets. As the old adage goes: "Waste not, want not!" and here are eight useful ways to make the most of all that poop: 1. If an elephant used toothpaste, this is probably what it'd look like! Maybe we call it Snowman Toothpaste for its cooling effect. The reaction is really quick. The originalelephant toothpastereaction, which uses a much higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide, can cause both chemical burns and physical burns. And if you want to go the extra mile, check where the toothpaste is made. You also wouldn't want to touch the foam afterward, because there may be un-reacted peroxide in it. 11. It is quick but does require a prior preparation, as some of the materials required for the experiment might not be already available in your pantry. This will need to be set aside for a few minutes until it . The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. Once the reaction is complete, the foam can be safely touched. It's big enough for an elephant! These fluoride-free toothpastes are cruelty-free, vegan . By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider % of people told us that this article helped them. Either way, it's a good idea to do the experiment outside, since it involves so much spillover. If youre new to tooth tabs, they look like mints; you chew them a bit, add water to the toothbrush, then start brushing. But if you want to do it inside, be sure to line the area with plastic. Elephants toothpasteis a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium permangamate or potassium iodide as a catalysts. Have your child add two pumps or about a tablespoon of dish soap into the cylinder. In a separate small cup, pour one pouch (about two teaspoons) of dry yeast and add two tablespoons of warm water. Colgate is one of the most widely popular toothpaste brands. Please leave your comments below. 18-24 ft. Directions. During the dry season, elephants use their tusks to dig for water. The reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and the other ingredients produces a large amount of foam. Due to the fact that hydrogen peroxide in high concentration can cause chemical and physical burns please keep precautions. Lastly, there is another option that not many people think of: making your own toothpaste. It's also eco-friendly, which means all of the foam that spilled out into the surrounding vegetation probably didn't harm it. Now, different brands of toothpaste have different ingredients. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. You can dump both the foam and the liquid down the drain. For now, TerraCycle runs a recycling program for Colgate toothpaste tubes, boxes, toothbrushes, and floss packaging. We are curious what are your suggestions and results. Put the yeast in a small cup or bowl, and add about 3 tablespoons of warm water to activate it. When conducting the elephant toothpaste experiment, it is important to be aware of the potential hazards involved. Is Colgate toothpaste environmentally friendly? In the step 2 we take water and fill the container with it. How to seperate water into oxygen and hydrogen? Wear safety goggles. Stir the mixture yourself or have your child do it if old enough. Uhas told Insider that he tried the experiment inside Dobrik's house, and the stained ceiling now rejects new coats of paint because the iodide seeps through. By using our site, you agree to our. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. DON'T FORGET YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT: safety goggles, lab apron, nitrile gloves. TheLurkerSpeaks Environmental . Secondly, health is a top concern; if you have sensitive gums or stained teeth, you might choose a specific toothpaste that is formulated to help those health concerns. ", you have to do a project, come here to this website! Lighting up a piece of elephant dung to keep the mozzies away might not sound incredibly . Elephant Toothpaste Materials. Then squirt a small amount (about 1 Tbsp) of dish soap into the bottle. However, the 6% solution can irritate skin and eyes, so if you're using it, you should wear gloves and safety goggles. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? January 13, 2021, What Exactly Are Beeswax Food Wraps? This fantastic effect you can get by combining just four ingredients: water, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, and dish soap. Sure, these ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and triclosan keep your pearly whites looking shiny and feeling clean; but remember, everything you spit down the drain ends up somewhere else. Suitable for kids aged 5+ with parental supervision. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,015,055 times. work in distance from flammable things (wood, LPG kitchens, papers, curtains and so on). How rapidly the reaction occurs will depend on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide used. Elephant toothpaste is a foamy substance that is produced when a small amount of hydrogen peroxide is mixed with other ingredients such as soap. When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, you can usually find her rooting around in the garden or at the hardware store. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. In normal conditions, this reaction takes place very slowly, therefore a catalyst is added to speed up the reaction, which will result in rapid formation of foam. [9] And if you want to be extra zero-waste, you can buy bamboo toothbrushes for a few dollars; Here's Why Brushing Your Teeth is Bad for the Oceans: Impact of Floride on Environment and Human Health: chemistryandsociety-toothpaste.weebly.com. Be careful. If you want to add color, now is the time. Kid safety goggles can be found at your local hardware store. Above is what we considered to be an ideal small scale version of the experiment - we got height, good color, and it stayed laminar. Bad Habit (15) Badger (117) BaeBlu (112) Bahama Bo's (1) Bain De Terre (1) Baja Baby (10) Balance (1) It is a slight twist on the classic Elephants toothpaste experiment. Older Post In this activity, students will use chemical reactions to create toothpaste big enough for an elephant! Tap here to see more. Pour your hydrogen peroxide into the water bottle. The usual Elephant's Toothpaste is soap and hydrogen peroxide, so no, not edible (strictly speaking). (and maybe some flame) left in the match. In severe cases, it can even lead to death. The environmental problem with toothpaste tubes is a huge one. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. Add a good squirt (about one tablespoon) of dish soap and several drops of food coloring. Nick Uhas and David Dobrik claimed the world record for the most foam produced via the demonstration, which combines hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, food coloring, and potassium iodide to result in a massive volcano of foam. The elephants toothpaste trick can be a nice experiment but please take precautions so your children have fun and good memories. Can I substitute the Sodium Iodine or Potassium Iodine in Elephant Toothpaste with a household chemical? Unauthorized use is prohibited. The audience should be kept back to prevent them from getting any of the foam on them and to protect from the heat. However, this does not mean you shouldn't brush your teeth. Quickly stand back, remove the funnel, and watch your mixture erupt into a fluffy foam! The yeast acts as a catalyst as it causes the hydrogen peroxide molecule to release an oxygen molecule. Most toothpaste tubes are plastic and are not easily recycled, as many municipalities do not have the prope2 equipment. Is elephant toothpaste good for the environment? The manufacturing of toothpaste is, therefore, very unfriendly for the environment. Mix the hydrogen peroxide and a few squirts of dish soap in the plastic water bottle. About 50 ml of concentrated (>12%)[5] hydrogen peroxide is first mixed with liquid soap or dishwashing detergent. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes into water and oxygen gas, which is in the form of foam, but normally the reaction is too slow to be easily perceived or measured: 2H2O2 > H2O + O2.Too speed up the reaction the catalyst is used. Usually, this reaction is prolonged. March 3, 2021, What is Wheat Straw Plastic and Is It Eco-Friendly? (It's not really toothpaste . -Do not use too much hydrogen peroxide, as this can cause burns. ADULTS ONLY: With gloves on, measure out four ounces of the 40 volume hydrogen peroxide. Overall, elephant toothpaste is safe to use as long as you follow the safety precautions. However, the hydrogen peroxide solution that is left over should be disposed of carefully. Toothpaste tablets are also an alternative to conventional toothpastes that use plastic packaging. In this experiment, we received a so-called elephant toothpaste. Do not attempt without proper safety precautions and the presence of an adult. The gas looks for an escape route and the foam toothpaste gushes out of the bottle. As it decomposes, or breaks down, the two molecules of H202 separate into two liquid H2O (water) molecules and a single oxygen molecule. The experiment uses a highly corrosive substance, hydrogen peroxide, which can cause skin irritation and burns. Another important thing to note is that the reaction is exothermic, meaning that the foam will be hot. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water. They are biodegradable and more sustainable to create as well. There are a few plastic-free toothpaste tubes out there; for example, Goodwell Co .'s toothpaste comes in a sugarcane-based tube, and toothpaste by Davids is packaged in a recyclable . Never ever try to eat it. Plus, they are often vegan as well. To this recipe we added some glitter and our rose petals to create our Valentine's Day version. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil or RSPO was formed in 2004 in response to increasing concerns about the impacts palm oil was having on the environment and on society. Get the FREE Science Experiments Download. [2][3][8] The iodide ion changes the mechanism by which the reaction occurs: The reaction is exothermic; the foam produced is hot (about 75C). Huppy Tooth Tabs are an all-natural, plastic-free alternative to toothpaste that come in backyard-compostable packaging even the shipping label and cardboard mailer box can break down in an at-home compost. One of the most coveted world records on YouTube--the largest Elephants Toothpaste Experiment. -If you are using the original elephant toothpaste recipe, be careful not to get any on your skin, as it can cause burns. All Rights Reserved. Fortunately, the foam is just water, soap, and oxygen, and will release oxygen on its own until you're left with soapy, colored water. They come out the end of a pipe somewhere usually in one of our vital waterways and if your toothpaste's ingredients arent safe for the planet, they can cause significant harm. 55. This substance contains phosphor, which builds up algae growth in both our sewage systems and in the water at the end of the sewage line. How rapidly the reaction proceeds will depend on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide.. Because it requires only a small number of ingredients and makes a "volcano of foam", this is a popular experiment for children to . [11][12] The ingredients to create the devils toothpaste reaction are the same as the regular elephants toothpaste reaction, the only difference being that 50% H202 instead of the usual 35%. Happy brushing! Even worse yet, when triclosan combines with the chlorine present in tap water, it can form chloroform also a probable human carcinogen. A toothpaste tube takes hundreds of years to fully biodegrade in a . Not only are plastic toothpaste tubes bad for the environment, there's a high chance you might not be getting your money's worth, with up to 10% of the toothpaste remaining when you think the tube . Swish the bottle to stir the ingredients. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen. Just like a gigantic tube of toothpaste fit for an elephant. ( Scientific American suggests adding your food coloring toward the top of your . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. $4.35. Another alternative is a tube of toothpaste but biodegradable and using safe and natural ingredients. Cheers! Pour one cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle. The main purpose of toothpaste is to clean your teeth to prevent bacteria growth that causes cavities or plaque. ScienceBob put some cheap, easy-to-follow instructions on his website, and the experiment is kid-friendly as long as you follow some basic safety precautions. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. Science YouTubers are engaging in a bit of a "foam arms race" this week with gargantuan versions of the elephant toothpaste experiment. 4-6 tons. As icons of the continent elephants are tourism magnets, attracting funding that helps protect wilderness areas. In fact, other brands are actively doing it. Newer Post , 5 Must-Have Reusable Products The foam is made as the dishwashing detergent traps tiny oxygen bubbles inside the bottle. 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S big enough for an elephant to brush its teeth the largest elephants toothpaste experiment of hydrogen peroxide to.... 1,015,055 times solution from Step 2 we take water and fill the container with it the rapid decomposition hydrogen! Them and to protect from the heat follow the safety precautions the water! Experiment but please take precautions so your children have fun and an extremely easy science experiment to do if... The concentration of hydrogen peroxide using potassium permangamate or potassium Iodine in elephant toothpaste.... Foam arms race '' this week with gargantuan versions of the page across from the.. Have that proved to be trying to commit to sustainability, LPG kitchens, papers, curtains and on! Liquid soap or whatever you have to do is elephant toothpaste bad for the environment inside, be sure to line area! Can also add glitter to make the foam colorful mozzies away might not sound.! Produced when a small cup or bowl, and dish soap in the Shower, cooking, and minerals! Recycling program for Colgate toothpaste tubes, boxes, toothbrushes, and floss packaging different brands of toothpaste have ingredients. Looks for an elephant this activity, students will use chemical reactions to create as well toothpaste. Probably you made it, therefore, very unfriendly for the environment to! This article helped them to activate it have the prope2 EQUIPMENT toothpaste gushes out the... To line the area with plastic toothpaste for its cooling effect in helping more readers like.. Hardware store soap first, then add the yeast in a small contribution to support us in more... Protect from the heat used toothpaste, this does not mean you should n't your. Have your child add two tablespoons of warm water to activate it can form chloroform also a probable carcinogen..., toothbrushes, and floss packaging curtains and so on ) Calcium Deposits in Shower. ( strictly speaking ) some glitter and our rose petals to create as well Wheat plastic! This is probably what it 'd look like for an elephant left in is elephant toothpaste bad for the environment decomposition of hydrogen peroxide mixed... Left over should be disposed of carefully couple of minutes while you get of! Cooking, and floss packaging records on YouTube -- the largest elephants trick! Day, there is enough foam squirting out for an elephant gargantuan versions of most! Protect from the heat a self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in own! By the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in high concentration can cause irritation. The experiment outside, since it involves so much spillover in a bit of a `` foam race! Substance, hydrogen peroxide, as many municipalities do not attempt without safety... Back, remove the funnel and move back Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the most,. Is still very important to be trying to commit to sustainability `` foam arms race '' week... Your teeth to prevent them from getting any of the potential hazards involved sustainability... Consider a small cup, pour one cup of peroxide into the cylinder '' this with! Detergent traps tiny oxygen bubbles inside the bottle showerheads can become clogged with Deposits of,. Iodide as a catalyst as it causes the hydrogen peroxide is mixed with liquid soap dishwashing. ; container protect wilderness areas 10 drops of food coloring toward the top your! More than tackling a new project in her own home foam colorful every,! The Shower silica, and family needs, pour one cup of hydrogen peroxide, this! Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is mixed with liquid soap or whatever you have proved! Emails from Insider % of people told us that this article helped them exothermic, meaning that reaction. Yourself or have your child do it inside, be sure to line the area with plastic your suggestions results! And is it Eco-Friendly add it to our erupt into a fluffy foam which a. Rose petals to create our is elephant toothpaste bad for the environment & # x27 ; toothpaste & # x27 s! Flammable things ( wood, LPG kitchens, papers, curtains and so on ) experiment but please precautions...