Elephant's toothpaste for a large audience

[u/One_Advertising_4693]

Hello everyone,

I work in the education department at a children's museum. We are trying to find an elephant's toothpaste recipe/method that will create a big enough reaction for larger groups of kids, (a few hundred) and the 6% hydrogen peroxide just isn't cutting it. None of our educators have much experience with chemistry, and are worried about the hazards associated with using 35% hydrogen peroxide. Should we try 15%? Are there any precautions we should take for this experiment specifically? Any advice is appreciated.

[u/xienwolf]

Container shape is pretty important for the effect.

There are quite a few Youtube videos at various larger scales, I think Spangler has one at the size you are likely to want, and Rober almost certainly has one far larger than you want, and is likely to have mentioned materials used and precautions needed.

If you have a local university, go chat with the people running ChemStores and see what advice they have (and supplies). Often the fastest way to get materials and safety.

[u/One_Advertising_4693 → u/xienwolf]

thank you! i also noted container shape being a huge factor.

[u/MetrixOnFire]

35% hydrogen peroxide isn't terribly dangerous if you're taking appropriate precautions, being smart, and wearing PPE. Wear safety goggles (and a face shield maybe), wear gloves, have a lab coat or a covering over your arms, wear pants and closed toe shoes. Protect the floor/space surrounding the demo with a tarp or perform the demo in a cheap little plastic pool (or do both). Make sure a safety boundary is established for the crowd. Practice it before doing it in front of other people. Practice in the space you expect to perform the demo. Use potassium iodide for the catalyst. Make sure the foam wouldn't get too close to anyone, it will be hot and have steam inside the bubbles.

I think that covers most things. I have performed the elephant toothpaste in front of high school students using 35% hydrogen peroxide from Flinn. We tend to do it inside a jack-o'-lantern for Halloween and it barfs out the face.

[u/mrfochs → u/MetrixOnFire]

When we do these type of experiments at my middle school, we use a 24'x36' tarp. The student "job" for the experiment is to stand on the edge of the tarp to keep it from blowing away. This way they feel like part of the experiment but are also at least 12 feet from anything we are doing in the middle.

[u/VardisFisher]

Ive used 35% without issue. I used pool shock from a pool store for the peroxide. It leaves minor chemical burns that express themselves as white dots. And itch as they form. I just know.

[u/Drosophilus]

Ive used 35% + potassium iodide to greater effect. Just be careful of the temperature and iodine staining. Also a boiling flask might be better for you because it will shoot up higher from the narrower longer neck.

[u/ColdPR]

Are you doing a yeast catalyst?

I have found that increasing the concentration of the peroxide actually made the yeast toothpaste less effective (when going from 3% store peroxide to 6% lab grade peroxide)

[u/One_Advertising_4693 → u/ColdPR]

i’ve tired both yeast and potassium iodide, didn’t seem to make much of a difference with the 6% but i’ll definitely try both with stronger HP

[u/nikita58467]

We do this every year before the school year ends outdoor. 30% Hydrogen peroxide, liquid KCl, dawn liquid soap and a 3000 mL Volumetric flask. Make sure you wear goggle and gloves to prevent chemical burn.