The classic elephant toothpaste recipe and experiment is an ideal chemical reaction demonstration. Some chemical reactions are hard to “see”, so it’s more difficult for students to see what is actually happening.
However, this experiment has an instantaneous and prolonged reaction (depending on the strength of the hydrogen peroxide and the amount of yeast and hydrogen peroxide used).
Elephant Toothpaste and Antioxidants
Making elephant toothpaste leads us to a deeper discussion of what’s happening in this chemical reaction. Students will also learn how cell oxidation occurs and the importance of antioxidants.
There is a full explanation of what happens at the end. We have a printable with instructions, lab worksheets, and explanations you can download by using the request form below.
Request the Elephant Toothpaste Recipe and Experiment Worksheets
Elephant Toothpaste Recipe and Experiment Steps
Here are the supplies you’ll need. Please note that the intensity of the reaction when following this elephant toothpaste recipe will vary depending on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. 12% is available here on Amazon, or you can use a lesser percentage. However, results will differ.
Also, you do not want to use very hot or boiling water when mixing the yeast and water. The water used to dissolve the yeast in this experiment should ideally be between 37°C to 43°C (98°F to 110°F). This temperature range activates the yeast and allows the catalase enzyme in yeast to break down the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. If the water is too hot, it could kill the yeast; if it’s too cold, the reaction may happen more slowly or not at all.
Supplies:
- ½ C 12% Hydrogen Peroxide (12% produces a more dramatic reaction than lesser percentages. The lower percentages will work.)
- ¼ cup warm water
- Measuring cups
- ¾ Tbsp activated yeast (or (1) ¼ oz activated yeast envelope)
- 1 Tbsp Dawn dish soap
- Food coloring (red or pink)
- Gold, pink, and red glitter
- Latex gloves
- Protective eyeglasses
- Plastic bottle about 1L in size
- Plastic tub with sides
- Fork
Gather all the supplies needed.
Put on the latex gloves and eyeglasses and place the empty bottle into the empty tub.
Carefully pour hydrogen peroxide into the plastic bottle.
Add dawn dish soap to the peroxide and slowly swirl the bottle to mix.
Add 4-5 drops of food coloring and glitter to the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap.
Add a few drops of red food coloring to the lip of the plastic bottle.
Add the yeast to the warm water in a separate cup and mix with a fork.
Slowly add the yeast and water mixture to the bottle that has the hydrogen peroxide, food coloring, and glitter.
Watch and enjoy the reaction.
Fill out the lab sheets.
The Science Behind the Elephant Toothpaste Recipe and Experiment
We observed a decomposition chemical reaction when we combined the hydrogen peroxide, yeast, and dish soap.
What is a decomposition reaction?
It is a type of reaction that happens when a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances. In this experiment, the hydrogen peroxide is broken down into two simpler substances – water and oxygen gas.
The foaming we see in our elephant toothpaste is caused by the oxygen gas getting caught up in the soap. The soap surrounds the gas and creates a foam.
As more oxygen gas is produced from the yeast and hydrogen peroxide reaction, more bubbles form, and the foam expands rapidly.
The foam is so thick and overflowing that it looks like toothpaste is coming out of a tube.
For students who have studied chemical equations:
When you add yeast to the hydrogen peroxide, the catalase enzyme breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2). (Note: there are two Periodic Table resources linked in the resource section at the end of this post.)
The chemical formula for hydrogen peroxide is two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms.
H2O2
The chemical formula for water is H2O, so we have 2H2OO2 that gets broken down into water and oxygen gas. The chemical equation is written as:
2H2OO2 →2H2O + O2
What Specifically is a Catalase Enzyme?
Yeast contains a catalase enzyme. A catalase enzyme is a protein that acts as a catalyst (or helper) to speed up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
So, in the elephant toothpaste activity, the catalase enzyme in yeast breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2).
Catalase is found in almost every living organism that is exposed to oxygen. This includes plant, animal, and human cells, foods—such as potatoes and apples, bacteria, yeast, and other fungi.
Catalase protects all living organisms from oxidation by breaking down the hydrogen peroxide within the organism.
What is oxidation?
In living organisms, oxidation is like a process where certain molecules, called reactive oxygen species, can sometimes get too active and start causing trouble. These tiny, energetic molecules can bump into important parts of our cells, like walls, and break or make them not work the way they should.
The catalase enzyme in yeast acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that help protect cells from damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), like hydrogen peroxide. (Below we have some ideas for researching antioxidants further.)
Catalase speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, preventing it from causing oxidative damage to cells. We saw this when making elephant toothpaste. Did you notice how quickly the reaction happened?
This protective action helps maintain the health and function of the cells, similar to how antioxidants work in other living organisms.
Apples and Oxidation
To help understand oxidation, let’s look at apples.
Apples contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (phenolase). When an apple is cut, the enzymes inside are released. Oxygen from the air causes phenolase to catalyse(speed up the process) the formation ofbrown pigments called melanins. This is called oxidation or enzymatic browning. It’s kind of like rust forming on metal – another form of oxidation.
More specifically, oxidation is a chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons by a substance. During oxidation, a compound or molecule loses electrons, which causes it to become more positively charged. This process often involves the addition of oxygen or the removal of hydrogen atoms from the substance.
I’m sure you have seen this process occur. Just think what happens to cut apples and bananas when left out on a counter for a while. They turn brown and unappealing.
Certain substances can stop or slow down this process. One of these substances is Vitamin C.
Here is an easy hands-on activity to help you understand how oxidation can be stopped or slowed down. Vitamin C And Apple Experiment – The Homeschool Scientist
So, as you can see, making elephant toothpaste is much more than a cool chemical reaction!
Take This Experiment Further & Other Resources
Here are some ways to expand on this activity by changing one variable (ingredient) in the elephant toothpaste recipe:
- Vary the amount of hydrogen peroxide used, keeping the amount of soap, water, food coloring, water temperature, and amount of yeast the same.
- Vary the temperature of the water used to mix the yeast, keeping the keeping the amount of soap, water, food coloring, hydrogen peroxide, and yeast the same.
- Vary the amount of yeast used, keeping the amount of soap, water, food coloring, hydrogen peroxide, and water temperature the same.
- If you’re looking for a printable and interactive Periodic Table of Elements, check out these versions from wlonk.com.
- This is an excellent interactive Periodic Table of Elements for high school students from Jefferson Labs.
Use the Elephant Toothpaste Activity to Research More
After completing the elephant toothpaste activity and answering the discussion questions, research one or more of the topics below:
- Types of Antioxidants: Explore different types of antioxidants, such as vitamins (e.g., vitamin C and E), minerals (e.g., selenium), and phytochemicals (e.g., flavonoids), and their sources in food.
- How Antioxidants Work: Investigate the mechanisms by which antioxidants neutralize free radicals and protect cells from oxidative damage.
- Antioxidants in Diet: Research the role of antioxidants in nutrition and how a diet rich in antioxidants can contribute to health and well-being.
- Antioxidants and Aging: Examine the relationship between antioxidants and the aging process, including how they may help delay age-related damage.
- Antioxidants and Disease Prevention: Study how antioxidants are linked to the prevention of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Synthetic vs. Natural Antioxidants: Compare synthetic antioxidants used in food preservation with natural antioxidants found in foods.
- Impact of Cooking on Antioxidants: Investigate how different cooking methods affect the antioxidant levels in various foods.
- Antioxidants in Plants: Explore the role of antioxidants in plants, including how they help plants cope with stress and protect against environmental damage.
- Antioxidant Supplements: Examine the benefits and potential risks of taking antioxidant supplements, and how they compare to obtaining antioxidants from food sources.
Use the Elephant Toothpaste Activity to Research MoreAfter completing the elephant toothpaste activity and answering the discussion questions, research one or more of the topics below:– The science behind the elephant toothpaste experiment– Variations of the elephant toothpaste recipe for different effects– Safety precautions when conducting the elephant toothpaste experiment
I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director. I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.
