"Elephant Toothpaste" Foaming Science Experiment

We did this awesome Foaming Science Experiment (from Science Bob) at my son's Super Science Birthday Party and it was a HUGE hit!  Mix together a few ingredients and you get an amazing eruption of thick, bubbly foam!  It does require a trip to a beauty supply store to pick up some extra strong hydrogen peroxide (or you can order it HERE on Amazon ) , but it's absolutely worth it.

It almost looks like toothpaste for an elephant, doesn't it?

Here's what you'll need:

• 1/2 cup 6% hydrogen peroxide (sold in beauty supply stores or online as 20 Volume Clear Developer )
• 2 tsp. yeast (1 packet)
• 3 tbsp. warm water
• dish detergent
• food coloring (optional)
• empty 16oz plastic bottle 
• funnel
• safety goggles
• tray or container to catch the foaming fun

Here's what to do:

1. Pour 1/2 cup of the peroxide into the empty water bottle (Hydrogen peroxide can irritate skin and eyes, so make sure you protect your eyes and skin and let a grown up do the pouring.)
2. Add about 8 drops of food coloring to the bottle (optional)
3. Add about 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap into the bottle and swish it just a bit to mix it.
4. In a separate cup, combine yeast and warm water.  Mix for about 30 seconds until most lumps are gone.
5. Now the fun begins!!  Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle ( using a funnel) and watch the foaminess begin.
6. The foam is just water, soap and oxygen so it's safe to touch, but it will be warm because of the reaction!

Check out the fun the kids had with this at the Super Science Party!

And here it is on video so you can see the fun foaming fountain in action!!


 



Here's the science behind this experiment (from ScienceBob.com) 

 

Foam is awesome! The foam you made is special because each tiny foam bubble is filled with oxygen. The yeast acted as a catalyst (a helper) to remove the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Since it did this very fast, it created lots and lots of bubbles. Did you notice the bottle got warm. Your experiment created a reaction called an Exothermic Reaction - that means it not only created foam, it created heat! The foam produced is just water, soap, and oxygen so you can clean it up with a sponge and pour any extra liquid left in the bottle down the drain. 

This experiment is sometimes called "Elephant's Toothpaste" because it looks like toothpaste coming out of a tube, but don't get the foam in your mouth!

Sharing this awesome experiment at:

Super Science Party sneak peek

This past weekend, I hosted a really fun Super Science party for my son's 8th birthday.  Over the next few days, I'll be sharing some of the kids' favorite science experiments from the party, as well as some of the simple foods and extras I did to make the party special.

In the meantime, here's a little sneak peek at some of the day's excitement.

No more waiting, here's the whole party with all the fun experiments!

No-Bake Chocolate Cookies

I was first given this recipe when I was babysitting for a family in college. It's so easy and really, really yummy. (Granted, they may not look super appealing, but believe me, the yumminess definitely makes up for what they lack in appearance.) The other day, my youngest and I had some free time, so we whipped up a quick batch. There were none left by the next morning. 

Here's what you need:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup milk 
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder (Note: not hot chocolate powder, but the unsweetened cocoa powder)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats

Here's what to do:

1.  Put butter, sugar, milk and cocoa powder in a large sauce pan.  Bring ingredients to a rolling boil while stirring continuously.  Boil for one minute and remove from heat.

 When my daughter saw the whole stick of butter and 2 cups of sugar

being added in this step she commented, "This isn't really a healthy recipe is it, Mom?"

(No, sweetheart, but sometimes mommies 

like a yummy chocolate-y treat to make it through a rough day!)

2.  Stir in peanut butter and vanilla and mix until blended.  Add quick oats and stir until combined.

3. Line a baking sheet with wax paper.  Drop mixture by tablespoon-full onto the waxed paper.  The cookies will harden as they cool.  (I often pop them into the fridge for a bit to speed up this process)

We used a 1/4 cup measure instead of tablespoon for big cookies!

 That's it!  These are almost too easy, especially considering how deliciously, fudge-y they turn out.  Just try to ignore my 6 year-olds comments on the how all that butter and sugar aren't healthy.  They're a yummy special treat (and that oatmeal is good for your fiber intake, right?)

Sharing these easy, yummy treats at:

Happy Hour Projects 
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