Elephant Toothpaste
Decomposition Reactions
Introduction
Mix together hydrogen peroxide, sodium iodide solution, and dishwashing liquid in a tall cylinder and stand back. Your
students will observe with amazement a catalyst in action as an enormous amount of soapy foam erupts from “Old
Foamey!”
Concepts
• Catalysts • Decomposition Reactions
Materials
Hydrogen peroxide, 30%, 20 mL Graduated cylinder, 10-mL
Sodium iodide solution, 2 M, 5 mL Graduated cylinder, 100-mL
Dishwashing liquid, 10 mL Plastic tray, several inches deep
Food coloring (optional)
Safety Precautions
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. Although the dishwashing liquid is considered non-hazardous, do not ingest the material. Do not stand
over the reaction; steam and oxygen are produced quickly. Wear appropriate chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves and a
chemical-resistant apron. This activity requires the use of hazardous components and/or has the potential for hazardous reactions. Please
review current Material Safety Data Sheets for additional safety, handling, and disposal information.
Procedure
1. Place a 100-mL graduated cylinder in a plastic tray that is several inches deep.
2. Measure out 20 mL of the 30% hydrogen peroxide into the 100-mL graduated cylinder. Caution: Wear chemical
resistant gloves and goggles when handling 30% hydrogen peroxide. Contact with skin may cause burns.
3. Measure out 10 mL of dishwashing liquid into the 10-mL graduated cylinder and add it to the cylinder containing the
hydrogen peroxide. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired. Have your students observe that little or no reaction
occurs.
4. Measure out 5 mL of sodium iodide solution using the 10-mL graduated cylinder. Quickly but carefully, add the
sodium iodide solution to the 100-mL graduated cylinder.
5. Step back and observe the reaction.
Disposal
The foam and solution left in the cylinder may be rinsed down the drain with excess water. Please consult your current
Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual for general guidelines and specific procedures governing the disposal of laboratory
waste.
© 2017 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1
Publication No. 91098
031617
SCIENTIFIC
Elephant Toothpaste continued
2
© 2017 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Tips
• You may want to do this demonstration in the laboratory sink since there is a lot of foam produced. Cleanup, however, is
easy due to the presence of extremely safe products and the generous amount of detergent.
• The cylinder will get hot, so let it cool before handling.
• This demonstration can be easily and safely scaled up for larger audiences. A 500-mL or 1-L Pyrex
®
graduated cylinder
works well in this case.
• The slight brown tinge of the foam at the beginning is due to the presence of free iodine produced by the extreme
oxidizing ability of the 30% hydrogen peroxide.
• Another catalyst that will catalyze this reaction is manganese(IV) oxide, MnO
2
.
• To demonstrate that oxygen is indeed one of the products, light a match and blow it out. Ideally, the center of the match
will still be orange. Hold the match very close to the foam produced—the match should reignite.
Discussion
This demonstration evolves a good deal of heat as shown by the steam coming off of the foam as it is produced. The reaction,
therefore, is exothermic. The action of a catalyst is demonstrated. The catalyst is the I
–
(aq) ion which speeds up the
decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide. The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide produces steam and oxygen gas. The
oxygen gas and water vapor cause the dishwashing liquid to foam.
I
–
(aq)
2H
2
O
2
(aq) → 2H
2
O(g) + O
2
(g) + Energy
Connecting to the National Standards
This laboratory activity relates to the following National Science Education Standards (1996):
Unifying Concepts and Processes: Grades K–12
Evidence, models, and explanation
Content Standards: Grades 5–8
Content Standard B: Physical Science, properties and changes of properties in matter
Content Standards: Grades 9–12
Content Standard B: Physical Science, structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, interactions of energy
and matter
Acknowledgement
Special thanks to Jim and Julie Ealy of The Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ.
Reference
Stone, C. H. J. Chem. Ed. 1944, 21, 300.
Flinn Scientific—Teaching Chemistry
™
eLearning Video Series
A video of the Elephant Toothpaste activity, presented by DeWayne Leineman, is available in Decomposition Reactions, part of the
Flinn Scientific—Teaching Chemistry eLearning Video Series.
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3
© 2017 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Materials for Elephant Toothpaste are available from Flinn Scientific, Inc.
Materials required to perform this activity are available in the Old Foamey—Chemical Demonstration Kit available from Flinn
Scientific. Materials may also be purchased separately.
Catalog No. Description
AP2085 Old Foamey—Chemical Demonstration Kit
H0037 Hydrogen Peroxide, 30%, 100 mL
S0436 Sodium Iodide, 100 g
C0241 Cleaner, Liquid, Household-Type
V0003 Food Coloring Dyes, Set of 4
AP5429 Demonstration Tray, Large
Consult the Flinn Scientific website for current prices.
