is elephant toothpaste bad for the environment

Elephant's toothpaste is a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) using potassium iodide (KI) or yeast and warm water as a catalyst. 13. Most of them have names we only expect to see in science movies, like Helidone Pink or Brilliant Blue FCF. . Make sure you wear gloves and eye protection, and be careful not to get any of the mixture on your skin. (Toothpastes that use animal fat-based glycerin are not vegan; Colgates Smile for Good uses plant-based glycerin. Rapidly expanding foam contains oxygen, hence youd better work in distance from flammable things (wood, LPG kitchens, papers, curtains and so on), be ready to fade out potential fire, use glasses at all time, keep your hair tied up, do not breath the gases. Each tiny little foam bubble we crate is filled with oxygen. With Delta Dental estimating that the average American uses 20 gallons of toothpaste throughout their lifetime, using an environmentally friendly toothpaste is crucial. January 13, 2021, What Exactly Are Beeswax Food Wraps? Overall, the elephant toothpaste experiment is safe to conduct as long as proper safety precautions are taken. If youre new to tooth tabs, they look like mints; you chew them a bit, add water to the toothbrush, then start brushing. [2][3][8] The iodide ion changes the mechanism by which the reaction occurs: The reaction is exothermic; the foam produced is hot (about 75C). Only a few ingredients are necessary to make a BIG impression on your kids or your students. Elephants toothpasteis a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium permangamate or potassium iodide as a catalysts. The elephant toothpaste experiment is safe to touch after 3 minutes. If you want to add color, now is the time. In normal conditions, this reaction takes place very slowly, therefore a catalyst is added to speed up the reaction, which will result in rapid formation of foam. Check the yeast packaging to see how hot the water needs to be. The audience should be kept back to prevent them from getting any of the foam on them and to protect from the heat. See the full instructions from ScienceBob here , Nick Uhas and David Dobrik stunned the internet with, Before their attempt, science YouTubers Mark Rober and ScienceBob did their own, If you want to replicate their attempt on a smaller scale at home, ScienceBob, A 16-ounce plastic soda or water bottle OR a bucket that size, A small cup to hold your yeast and at least 3 tablespoons of warm water. As we know, plastic is a product of oil and the process of both creating and recycling it causes a surge of CO2 into the air. Elephant's toothpaste is a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (.mw-parser-output .template-chem2-su{display:inline-block;font-size:80%;line-height:1;vertical-align:-0.35em}.mw-parser-output .template-chem2-su>span{display:block;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output sub.template-chem2-sub{font-size:80%;vertical-align:-0.35em}.mw-parser-output sup.template-chem2-sup{font-size:80%;vertical-align:0.65em}H2O2) using potassium iodide (KI) or yeast and warm water as a catalyst. Enjoy the bubbles! If you don't like the taste, you can add a bit of coconut oil combined with a drop of essential mint oil (or another herb). Last Updated: August 29, 2022 You can also add glitter to make it more fun. By following these guidelines, you can safely enjoy this fun and exciting science demonstration! Elephant Toothpaste is a fun and an extremely easy science experiment to do at home. Then you just need something to add bubbles - either mechanical action or baking soda/vinegar will do the trick. 1 ) 1/2 cup 20-volume hydrogen peroxide liquid (20-volume is a 6% solution, which can be found at a beauty supply store or hair salon) 2) 3 Tablespoons of warm water 3) Liquid dish washing soap 4) Food coloring 5) 1 Tablespoon Yeast. It may not be what your dentist tells you, but whats clean for your teeth isnt always what is clean for the environment. INSTRUCTIONS: Step 1. The answer is complicated. Stir it. That means you can just use a funnel or pour the dissolved yeast into the hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water. Experiment with some enormous 'toothpaste', fit for an elephant. If you would like your foam to get out from the container use the short one. November 26, 2020, How to Recycle Your Bamboo Toothbrush In the video, he experiments with different container shapes and sizes to determine which will result in the most spectacular reaction. More recently, it's been used at the 2019 Miss Virginia pageant and for gender reveals. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes into water and oxygen gas, which is in the form of foam, but normally the reaction is too slow to be easily perceived or measured: 2H2O2 > H2O + O2.Too speed up the reaction the catalyst is used. Have your child add two pumps or about a tablespoon of dish soap into the cylinder. A small amount of this toothpaste may not hurt, but when many people use it (which they do), it can have devastating effects on marine life. We, humans, are simple. They are small, pill looking tablets that contain multiple ingredients to keep your teeth clean and your breath fresh. 1 packet of dry yeast. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. If youre thinking about trying this experiment at home, its important to be aware of the risks involved. We learn to do something for our health, so we want to keep doing it. With baking soda, xylitol, bentonite clay, coconut oil, and peppermint oil, you could make your own toothpaste with no excess, frivolous packaging or harmful ingredients. Elephant Toothpaste is a fun science experiment to see the physical foamy effect of a chemical reaction. 3) Remove the funnel straight into a sink or bowl, being careful not to drip any hydrogen peroxide that may still be in it. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Stir the mixture yourself or have your child do it if old enough. There are still ways in which you can brush your teeth without harming the environment. Georganics also makes a toothpaste powder that turns into a paste when you add water. I am doing elephant toothpaste and want to know, "I'm also doing a project for school and I chose to do the elephent toothpaste and this website is very helpful. Nevertheless, the lower concentration of peroxidecan till discolor fabrics. CEO and president of Colgate-Palmolive told The Guardian, Colgate wants to make tubes a part of the circular economy by keeping this plastic productive and eliminating waste. . Overall, Coolpaste is designed to make the product's shelf life longer and consistent, along with eliminating the negative environmental impact of toothpaste. Baking soda is a wonder to all! We also look at toxic ingredients, vegan brands, spotlight on Colgate-Palmolive, and give our recommended buys. Make your own elephant toothpaste?! Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes into water and oxygen gas, which is in the form of foam, but normally the reaction is too slow to be easily perceived or measured:[2]. Hydrogen peroxide normally decomposes (breaks down into separate elements), and combining it with detergent and yeast (a catalyst) speeds up the process. The stripped off oxygen molecule takes the form of a gas and once it hits the soap it creates fluffy foam bubbles, while the rest stays as water. Allow them to measure out the yeast and mix in the correct amount of water, heated to 105-110 F (41-43 C). Put on gloves and safety glasses. This means the fish and other animals that live there will slowly suffocate and die. No. In late May 2007, a retailer in New South Wales Australia noticed a box of toothpaste on his shelves also containing that chemical. WARNING:This experiment uses chemicals that can irritate skin and damage clothes, so make sure to use safety goggles, lab apron, and nitrile gloves. It's big enough for an elephant! The above brands are all cruelty-free and made with safe-for-the-environment ingredients. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-hydrogen-peroxide-good-for/, http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/08/fun-science-experiment-for-kids.html, https://sciencebob.com/fantastic-foamy-fountain/, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/make-elephant-toothpaste/, http://ncsu.edu/project/chemistrydemos/Kinetics/Elephants%20Toothpaste.pdf, Fazer a Experincia da Pasta de Dente de Elefante, (Make Elephant Toothpaste, Chemical Reaction). For now, TerraCycle runs a recycling program for Colgate toothpaste tubes, boxes, toothbrushes, and floss packaging. And you might've guessed it, one of those new alternatives is toothpaste tablets. Lighting up a piece of elephant dung to keep the mozzies away might not sound incredibly . 343 Views Download Presentation. Sc i ent i st s real i zed t hi s a whi l e Gently mix these ingredients by swirling the bottle. All rights reserved, 16-ounce empty plastic soda or water bottle with narrow neck, cup 20-volume peroxide, sold in a beauty supply store; needs to be a 6 percent solution, glass measuring cup, beaker, or clear plastic cup, safety equipment: safety goggles, lab apron, nitrile gloves. The foam is made as the dishwashing detergent traps tiny oxygen bubbles inside the bottle. The detergent speeds up the foaming. 2) Put a funnel in the top of bottle and carefully pour in the hydrogen peroxide (this needs to be done by an adult). Others, like copolymers and titanium dioxides, seem very threatening and don't ring any bells with us. As the oxygen emanates from the reaction, it creates bubbles. Elephant's T oot hpast e Chemistry | 20 minutes In this activity, s tudent s w i l l use chem i cal r eacti ons to cr eate toothpaste big enough for an el ephant ! Can I substitute the Sodium Iodine or Potassium Iodine in Elephant Toothpaste with a household chemical? [6] About 5-10 drops of food coloring could also be added before the catalyst to dramatize the effect. 1072 Words. Optionally, you can also put a plastic tarp down to catch all the foam. Some people may have an allergy to the yeast, but it is rare. They are also keystone species, playing an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live. The originalelephant toothpastereaction, which uses a much higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide, can cause both chemical burns and physical burns. For variables, use different percentages of hydrogen peroxide to see . By using our site, you agree to our. Another option is to make your own zero-waste toothpaste using a few base ingredients that most environmentally friendly toothpastes use anyway. 5 - 10 drops food coloring. Sure, these ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and triclosan keep your pearly whites looking shiny and feeling clean; but remember, everything you spit down the drain ends up somewhere else. When the blown out match is put into a pure oxygen environment, the blown out match, which still has the remnants of the flame, re-ignites. Gather your materials. The original elephant toothpaste reaction can result in both thermal and chemical burns and is not recommended for children. Even worse yet, when triclosan combines with the chlorine present in tap water, it can form chloroform also a probable human carcinogen. Suitable for kids aged 5+ with parental supervision. Must wear goggles and gloves for the hydrogen peroxide can irritate eyes and skin. % of people told us that this article helped them. Preparation. Pour cup of peroxide into your 'toothpaste' container. You can use 3% hydrogen peroxide for the experiment, though it may not produce as much foam as a 6% concentration. Make sure the yeast and hydrogen peroxide are mixed well for optimum effect. There are more and more alternatives coming to the market every day. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid697964-v4-728px-Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"