Chemical Synthesis Of Elephant Toothpaste

In ancient India there was an unknown bacteria inhabiting the fruit of tall baadunga trees. The only animal tall enough to get to it at the time were elephants, but the bacteria caused rapid tooth decay in the elephant species. Ancient scientists were stumped until they accidentally discovered the chemical reaction that would save the elephants from losing all of their teeth. Elephant toothpaste is a great example of the deterioration of oxygen through a chemical reaction that humans can see without a microscope, and happens better with the catalyst in a solid, ground up form.
Even though the origin of it might not be completely true, Elephant toothpaste is a chemical reaction of hydrogen peroxide decomposing into water and oxygen gas. First grab a bottle of hydrogen peroxide that is at least 20%-30% pure for the ideal reaction, a small container of dish soap, a sheet of cardboard, a big bottle or beaker with a smaller mouth …show more content…
The hydrogen peroxide and soap break down quickly when touching the catalyst and oxygen. If the top on hydrogen peroxide was not put on or secured tight enough then this reaction would happen slowly and in about a year would just be plain water. The potassium iodine or yeast acts as a catalyst speeding up the reaction so that it is super fast and fun for people to do. The dish soap does not change anything it just makes bubbles instead of having all the oxygen shoot out as air. The potassium iodine being a catalyst does not do anything but speed up the reaction so that the result is a flume of bubbles instead of a slow release of oxygen. Without the catalyst the reaction still happens naturally but so slow and small that humans cannot see it with the naked eye. The reaction is also exothermic so use caution due to the beaker getting incredible