Elephant’s toothpaste

Session focus: Exploring rates of reaction through varying concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide

Starting the Science Pioneers program with a blast, our first class featured none other than the classic Elephant’s Toothpaste experiment in which a fountain of foam shoots up into the air upon mixing two chemical reagents. Today, the students explored one determinant of rates of the reaction: concentration. They experimented on how varying concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide had an effect on the speed and force of the foam.

Lesson Materials:


Chemicals:
• Hydrogen peroxide 
• (conc. 3%, 6%, 12%,30%) 250ml x1 of each conc.)
• Dish Soap
• Potassium Iodide 250ml x1
• Food coloring (green, blue, red)

Equipment:
• Large plastic box x5
• 250ml Conical Flasks x10
• Gloves x5 pairs
• Funnel x5
• Timer x5

Lesson Plan:


• Hand out worksheet to students click here
• Students carry out own experiments at desks using different concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide, members may
help with lab equipment
• 1st round – low conc.
• 2nd round – medium conc.
• 3rd round – high conc. 

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