elephant toothpaste science experiment diy at home

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How to Make Elephant Toothpaste

Last Updated: July 23, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Bess Ruff, MA . Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,066,268 times.

Making elephant toothpaste is an easy and fun science experiment that you can do with your kids at home or with students in the lab. It is the result of a chemical reaction that creates a large amount of oozing foam. The movement of the foam looks like toothpaste squirting out of a tube while the amount of foam usually is enough for an elephant to brush its teeth.

Please be aware the concentrated hydrogen peroxide (greater than the household 3%) is a strong oxidizer. It may bleach skin and could possibly cause burns. Do not attempt without proper safety precautions and the presence of an adult. Also, the lab version includes potassium iodide, which can reach hot temperatures. If you are at home, we suggest you use water and dry yeast instead. Have fun with it, but be safe!

Ingredients

Home version.

• 1 ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) of 6% hydrogen peroxide liquid
• 1 tablespoon (25.5 g) of dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons (44 ml) of warm water
• Liquid dish washing soap
• Food coloring
• Plastic bottles of all shapes

Lab version

• Liquid detergent
• 30% hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )
• Saturated solution of potassium iodide (KI)
• Graduated cylinder
• Food coloring (optional)

Preparing for the Experiment

• You can use 3% hydrogen peroxide for the experiment, though it may not produce as much foam as a 6% concentration.

Conducting the Home Version Experiment

• Depending on your child’s age, you can have them use a fun spoon and stirring tool. You can also have the put on goggles and a lab coat. Kid safety goggles can be found at your local hardware store.
• Check the yeast packaging to see how hot the water needs to be.

• If your child is too young, have them squeeze the dish soap and food coloring into the bottle. You can also add glitter to make it more fun. Make sure the glitter is plastic and not metal-based because peroxide should not be used with metal. [4] X Research source
• Stir the mixture yourself or have your child do it if old enough. Be sure that the hydrogen peroxide is not spilled.

• The fungi in the yeast immediately cause the hydrogen peroxide to decompose and strip off an extra oxygen molecule. The yeast acts as a catalyst as it causes the hydrogen peroxide molecule to release an oxygen molecule. 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. The gas looks for an escape route and the foam “toothpaste” gushes out of the bottle. [6] X Research source
• Make sure the yeast and hydrogen peroxide are mixed well for optimum effect.

• With a regular soda bottle and 3% hydrogen peroxide, you will probably get a cascading effect like a chocolate fountain.

Adjusting the Experiment for a Lab Version

Expert Q&A

• You might notice that the reaction produces heat. That's because the chemical process is exothermic, meaning that it releases energy. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 0
• Keep your gloves on when disposing of the elephant toothpaste. You can dump both the foam and the liquid down the drain. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 5
• Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) naturally breaks down into water (H 2 ) and oxygen over time. But you can speed up the process by adding a catalyst. And as the hydrogen peroxide releases a lot of oxygen at once in the presence of detergent, millions of little bubbles form quickly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• You can use any type of liquid soap, but don’t use antibacterial soap if you use yeast because the soap will kill the yeast.

• Elephant toothpaste can stain! Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 5
• The foam will overflow suddenly and quickly, especially in the chemistry lab version. Ensure this experiment is conducted on a washable, stain-resistant surface, and do not stand anywhere near the bottle or cylinder when it foams. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 3
• The resulting substance is called elephant toothpaste only because of its appearance. Don't put it in your mouth or swallow it. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 4
• This experiment cannot be done safely without goggles and gloves. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 10

Things You'll Need

• Safety goggles
• Disposable gloves
• Plastic soda bottle
• Tall graduated cylinder
• Liquid or powdered detergent
• Saturated solution of potassium iodide
• food coloring (optional)

You Might Also Like

• ↑ 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/

About This Article

To make elephant toothpaste, mix 3 tablespoons of warm water with 1 tablespoon of yeast in a bowl. Next, add dish soap, food coloring, and 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a bottle and mix the ingredients thoroughly. Then, pour the yeast mixture through a funnel into your bottle. Quickly stand back, remove the funnel, and watch your mixture erupt into a fluffy foam! For tips on adjustments you can make to get other effects, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Elephant Toothpaste – Two Ways to Make It

Elephant toothpaste is a chemical reaction that makes a volcano of foam when soapy water traps gases from the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. There are two easy methods for making elephant toothpaste. One makes a giant mountain of foam, while the other produces a smaller effect but is safe enough for kids to touch. The dramatic reaction uses strong peroxide and potassium iodide, while the kid-friendly version uses dilute peroxide and replaces potassium iodide with yeast. Here are instructions for both methods and a look at the chemistry involved.

Why Is It Called Elephant Toothpaste?

First, you may wonder why the reaction has the name “elephant toothpaste.” It’s because the thick column of foam escaping a tube looks like toothpaste big enough for an elephant to use. Also, it’s a lot easier and more descriptive than calling the reaction “rapid decomposition of peroxide”. After all, the point of elephant toothpaste is engaging people in the wonder of science. Even if someone doesn’t understand the chemistry, the project is fun and entertaining.

How to Make Giant Elephant Toothpaste

When you see videos of the world’s largest elephant toothpaste, you’re viewing the classic version of the demonstration.

This version uses concentrated hydrogen peroxide, potassium iodide or sodium iodide, liquid dishwashing detergent, water, and (if desired) food coloring:

• 30% hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )
• Potassium iodide (KI) or sodium iodide (NaI)
• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Food coloring (optional)
• Large graduated cylinder or Erlenmeyer flask
• Tray or tarp to catch the foam

The chemicals are available online, although it’s easier to just pick up the peroxide at a beauty supply store. Choose any tall container for the demonstration, but use glass and not plastic because the reaction generates heat.

Start by putting on proper safety gear, including safety goggles and gloves.

• First, prepare a saturated solution of potassium iodide or sodium iodide in water. In a beaker, dissolve crystals of either chemical in about 120 ml (4 ounces) of water. Continue stirring in the solid until no more dissolves. It takes about a tablespoon of the dry chemical. But, measurements are not critical here. Set aside the solution for now.
• Set the cylinder or flask in a tray or on a tarp. Pour about 60 ml (2 ounces) of 30% hydrogen peroxide into the glass tube. Add a squirt (about 5 ml) of dishwashing liquid to the tube. If you want colored foam, add a few drops of food coloring. Swirl the liquids to mix them. Here again, exact measurements are unnecessary.
• When you’re ready for the reaction, pour about 15 ml (one tablespoon) of the iodide solution and stand back. Foam forms within seconds and rapidly escapes the tube.
• After the reaction ends, wash the contents of the tray and tube down the drain with water.

Kid-Friendly Elephant Toothpaste

The classic chemistry demonstration is for chemistry educators, but the kid-friendly elephant toothpaste is safe enough for parents and children to perform and touch. Also, this version uses easy-to-find ingredients.

• 3% household peroxide
• 1-2 packet of dry yeast
• Food coloring
• Empty plastic soft drink bottle
• Cookie sheet or pan to catch the foam (optional)

It’s not necessary to don safety gear for this reaction and it’s fine to use either a plastic or glass container. Just make sure the bottle has a narrow opening because this channels the foam and improves the effect.

Don’t worry about measuring ingredients precisely.

• Pour about a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide into an empty bottle. If the bottle opening is small, use a funnel.
• Add a couple of squirts of dishwashing liquid and a few drops of food coloring to the bottle. Swish the liquid around to mix it.
• In a separate container, mix together yeast with enough warm water that the liquid is easy to pour. A paper cup is a great container choice because you can pinch its rim and make pouring the yeast mixture easier. Wait a couple of minutes before proceeding so the yeast has a chance to activate.
• When you’re ready, place the bottle on a cookie sheet or pan and pour yeast mixture into the bottle
• Clean-up using warm, soapy water.

Is Elephant Toothpaste Safe to Touch?

You can handle the ingredients and the foam from the kid-friendly elephant toothpaste project. However, don’t touch either the ingredients or the foam from the classic giant elephant toothpaste. This is because the peroxide is concentrated enough to cause a chemical burn, while the giant toothpaste is hot enough to cause a thermal burn.

How Elephant Toothpaste Works

The basis for the elephant toothpaste display is the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Hydrogen peroxide naturally decomposes into water and oxygen gas according to this chemical reaction:

2H 2 O 2 (l) → 2H 2 O(l) + O 2 (g)

In a decomposition reaction , a larger molecule breaks down into two or more smaller molecules. The normally slow progression of the reaction is why a bottle of peroxide has a shelf life . Exposure to light accelerates the decomposition, which is why peroxide comes in opaque containers.

Either potassium iodide or the enzyme catalase (found in yeast) acts as a catalyst for the reaction. In other words, either of these chemicals supercharges the reaction so it proceeds very quickly. Breaking chemical bonds in peroxide releases a lot of energy. Only a fraction of this energy goes back into forming chemical bonds making water and oxygen. What this means is that elephant toothpaste is an exothermic reaction or one that releases heat. How hot the reaction gets depends on how much peroxide you start with and how efficiently the catalyst speeds up the reaction. So, the classic version of the project gets hot enough to steam. The kid-friendly version of elephant toothpaste gets warm, but not hot enough to cause a burn.

Producing gas isn’t enough to make a foamy volcano. Adding liquid soap or dishwashing detergent to the mixture traps the gas bubbles. Normally, the reaction doesn’t have much color. Using food coloring makes the foam more interesting. Depending on your choice of colors, it also makes the foam resemble toothpaste.

• Dirren, Glen; Gilbert, George; Juergens, Frederick; Page, Philip; Ramette, Richard; Schreiner, Rodney; Scott, Earle; Testen, May; Williams, Lloyd. (1983).  Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry. Vol. 1.  University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, Wisconsin. doi:10.1021/ed062pA31.2
• “ Elephant’s Toothpaste .”  University of Utah Chemistry Demonstrations . University of Utah.
• Hernando, Franco; Laperuta, Santiago; Kuijl, Jeanine Van; Laurin, Nihuel; Sacks, Federico; Ciolino, Andrés (2017). “Elephant Toothpaste”.  Journal of Chemical Education . 94 (7): 907–910. doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00040
• IUPAC (1997). “Chemical decomposition”. Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the “Gold Book”) (2nd ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8. doi: 10.1351/goldbook

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Making Science Fun, Easy to Teach and Exciting to Learn!

Science Experiments

Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment

Elephant Toothpaste anyone? Although elephants might not be too excited about the idea, your kids will be thrilled with the fun chemical reaction of this super simple science experiment.

With only a few common items that you probably already have at home, kids can see the quick and impressive results of the chemical reaction, feel the heat released from the process, and even play with the “elephant toothpaste” foam afterward.

Below you’ll find detailed and printable instructions, a materials list, a demonstration video, and an easy to understand explanation of why it works!

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

• 2 Tablespoons Warm Water
• 1 Teaspoon Yeast
• Food Coloring
• Hydrogen Peroxide – Either 3% or 6%
• Empty Plastic Bottle

Helpful Tip: You can find the 3% at most stores, but you will need to either go to a Beauty Supply Store or order the 6% online. In the video I perform the experiment two ways. Once using the 3% peroxide and once using the 6%. It is often recommended to use 6% peroxide, but we actually preferred the reaction that happened with the 3% better.

Elephant Toothpaste Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Elephant Toothpaste Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment Instructions

Step 1 –  Combine two tablespoons of warm water with one teaspoon of yeast and mix until the yeast is completely dissolved in the water. 

Step 2 –  Pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle. You’ll see here that we have two bottles. The bottle pictured on the left is being filled with 3% hydrogen peroxide while the bottle pictured on the right is filled with 6% hydrogen peroxide.

Step 3 –  Add a few drops of food coloring into the bottle. Take a moment to make a few observations. What happened when you added the drops of food coloring?

Note: This step is optional, but adding the color adds a fun element to the experiment. You’ll see that we used a different color of food coloring for each bottle. 

Step 4 – Next, add a squirt of dish soap into the bottle. Again, take a moment observe what happened. Did adding the dish soap appear to have any effect on the liquid already in the bottle?

Step 5 – Finally, pour the mixture of water and yeast into the bottle. Watch carefully and observe what happens. 

Helpful Tip: You may need to gently swirl the bottle in order to get the items to completely combine. We had to do that for the 6% hydrogen peroxide.

Sit back and watch what happens. Write down your observations as you watch the experiment. Can you describe what happens when you add the water and yeast mixture to the bottle. If you are using both the 3% and the 6% hydrogen peroxide like we are, is there a difference between what happens? 

Wondering what caused the liquid to react that way? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

Watch the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment Step by Step Instructions Video

How Does the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment Work

This experiment shows a very impressive and fast chemical reaction! Hydrogen peroxide is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O2). In this experiment, yeast is a catalyst that helps release oxygen molecules from the hydrogen peroxide solution.

A catalyst is a material that increases the rate of a reaction without itself being consumed

The release of oxygen molecules in this experiment happens FAST! The foam created in this chemical reaction is made up of very tiny oxygen bubbles. These bubbles result when hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is broken down by the yeast into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2).

During the reaction, feel the bottle. It will feel warm to the touch because it is an exothermic reaction .

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy through light or heat (in this case, heat).

The reaction will continue and foam will be produced until all of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been broken down into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2).

**Have fun playing with the foam after the experiment is over! It is safe to touch because all that foam is just soap, water and oxygen. Let your kids have some fun with the foam too. Just be sure to have a towel handy!

Other Ideas to Try

Try adding more or less yeast when doing the experiment again. How does this affect the amount of foam produced?

Try the experiment again, but change the size of the bottle. How does this affect the amount of foam produced?

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

• Hydrogen Peroxide – Either 3% or 6%

Instructions

• Combine two tablespoons of warm water with one teaspoon of yeast and mix until the yeast is completely dissolved in the water.
• Pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle
• Add a few drops of food coloring into the bottle
• Add a squirt of dish soap into the bottle
• Pour the mixture of water & yeast into the bottle
• Sit back and watch what happens

Reader Interactions

February 7, 2016 at 8:13 pm

do it was a cemical reacin

February 8, 2016 at 1:15 pm

Correct! The yeast is mixed with the hydrogen peroxide causes a chemical reaction.

Which version did you like better, the one that reacted fast or the one that reacted slow?

May 17, 2018 at 12:31 pm

Looks amazing! What is the chemical reaction?

March 24, 2019 at 10:40 am

I’m am going to do that science project and this was super helpful thanks so much

March 24, 2019 at 10:46 am

Thank you so much I am doing this science project and I don’t know what to do and now I know what to do j

September 1, 2019 at 8:09 am

Did you try using more yeast or more 3 % hydrogen peroxide?

Found this explanation: “The yeast acted as a catalyst; a catalyst is used to speed up a reaction. It quickly broke apart the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Because 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 ” The yeast is not reacting with the hydrogen peroxide. Rather it is acting as a catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that causes a chemical reaction to speed up but is not “used” up during the reaction. Hydrogen Peroxide: H2O2 hydrogen and oxygen Baker’s Yeast: C19H14O2 carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

August 18, 2020 at 2:25 pm

My son did this experiment which was great! The only problem was that he played with the foam afterwards and his hands got super itchy. Can you be allergic to the yeast? Just a warning in case this happens to anyone else.

August 11, 2023 at 8:49 pm

Yeah I did this with potassium iodide and 25% hydrogen peroxide in a lab and my fingers went a little white on the tips (I had gloves on after this happened) they did get itchy and I think it was just the hydrogen peroxide bleaching the skin. This is an exothermic reaction so it can get hot not sure how hot with yeast.

January 25, 2022 at 11:25 am

It did not work for me and i don’t know why maybe caused i used rubbing alcohol insted

December 6, 2023 at 3:55 pm

good helpful and fun

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Hands On As We Grow®

Hands on kids activities for hands on moms. Focusing on kids activities perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

Science Experiment: Elephant Toothpaste for Kids

Science Grade School Kindergartners Preschoolers Bottles Experiment 11 Comments

Exciting elephant toothpaste science experiment for kids that is sure to bring amazement!

Perfect for your little scientist at home. Watch what will happen!

Get the FREE Week of Science Experiments

My daughters and I have done a lot of science experiments  over the years. There are so many to choose from!

We’ve tried color-changing milk , learned about what dissolves in water , and experimented with density in liquids . Just to name a few.

Recently, I was in the mood to do a science experiment  and asked my daughters which one they would like to do again.

I was (pleasantly) surprised they both said the same experiment: elephant toothpaste.

Not only did they both agree, but I already had all of the supplies on hand!

Make Elephant Toothpaste Experiment: Supplies Needed

Elephant toothpaste recipe ingredients:

• yeast packet (0.25 oz)
• 1/2 c. 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 3 Tbsp warm water
• food coloring
• 1/2 c measuring cup
• empty water bottle
• measuring spoon (1 Tbsp)
• small spoon
• safety glasses

How to Make Elephant Toothpaste Experiment for Kids

Once you have gathered all your supplies, you can follow the steps below. Which preschoolers can even assist with.

Place the empty water bottle in the cake pan. Put on safety glasses.

Hypothesize what will happen when you mix the ingredients together.

First pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle using a funnel.

Get the FREE Science Experiments Download

Then squirt a small amount (about 1 Tbsp) of dish soap into the bottle.

Gently swirl the bottle to mix contents.

Then you can add some drops of food coloring. The more drops you add, the darker the color will be.

Gently swirl the bottle again to mix the contents.

We added yellow food coloring.

The kids hypothesized the yellow food coloring mixed with the green dish soap would create blue elephant toothpaste.

It didn’t. It was still yellow!

Next empty the yeast packet into a small bowl.

And then add 3 Tbsps of warm water.

Now mix with a spoon until the yeast is completely dissolved. (My daughter said it looked like chocolate milk when it was ready.)

Your almost ready now to watch the elephant toothpaste for kids in action!

Combine Everything!

Lastly, dump all the contents from the bowl into the bottle using the funnel. Remove the funnel quickly.

Observe & Explore the Elephant Toothpaste with your Kids

Foam and bubbles should ooze out of the water bottle.

Feel the side of the bottle.

It should feel warm because heat is created. (Do not attempt to put any of it in your mouth.)

Did what you had predicted happen?

Clean up by pouring the foam down a sink with some water.

Download the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment for Kids Free Printable

It is convenient to have a science experiment in an easy-to-follow print-ready format.

So, below is an easy-to-read file with supplies and directions to make your own elephant toothpaste for kids.

Download and enjoy!

What is the Scientific Method ?

My daughters fill out lab reports when we do science experiments for school.

But this science experiment was just for fun. No lab reports required!

With that being said, we still seemed to follow (at least most of) the scientific method.

• Hypothesize

I did some online research with the kids to explain what had happened with the elephant toothpaste.

There were quite a few technical terms we discovered including “exothermic reaction” and “catalysts”.

Feel free to do your own research for more information.

In simplest terms, however, we learned the bubbles that were created contain oxygen. (They knew oxygen is something in the air we breathe.)

The dish soap helped to make the foam.

And the yeast  helped to make the bubbles and foam form faster.

We absolutely loved the elephant toothpaste science experiment for kids! We hope you do too.

What is your favorite science experiment?

Share with us in the comments!

About Brigitte Brulz

Brigitte Brulz is a homeschooling mom of two daughters, wife of her high school sweetheart, and author of Jobs of a Preschooler and Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles. She offers free coloring pages and activity ideas on her website at BrigitteBrulz.com .

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peter dufield says

August 4, 2022 at 5:53 am

great really good, but adverts got in way

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Elephant’s toothpaste.

Explore the science of this explosive elephant toothpaste experiment, and try your own version at home.

Experiment with some enormous ‘toothpaste’, fit for an elephant.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes naturally into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). By adding a few more ingredients we can make a huge, bubbly reaction to visualise this process. In this experiment we add dish soap, to help create bubbles, and a catalyst — which is a special chemical that allows us to fast forward a reaction.

We’ve used two different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide to show how the strength of a chemical can change the size of the reaction, but you can easily try this experiment at home with just a few household ingredients.

IMPORTANT: Please note, if you try this experiment at home you need to use hydrogen peroxide bleach, NOT a chlorine-based bleach.

What you’ll need:

• Empty plastic bottle
• 1/4 cup of dishwashing liquid
• 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Packet of active yeast

Instructions

• Pour the dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide into your bottle.
• Activate the yeast by stirring in a little warm water, waiting at least 10 minutes for the yeast to “wake up”. The yeast mixture is ready when the yeast has dissolved and the liquid starts bubbling. This will be the catalyst for this reaction.
• When you’re ready to start the experiment, add the yeast and watch how quickly the reaction occurs!

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How to Make Kid-Friendly Elephant Toothpaste at Home

While some science experiments are best left to experts (or no one ), others are safe enough to try at home with kids . One that falls in the latter category is known as “elephant toothpaste”—and the recipe might not even require a trip to the store.

Why Is It Called Elephant Toothpaste?

First off, elephant toothpaste has nothing to do with actual elephants or toothpaste. It’s a kind of foam that, as it explodes out of a cylindrical container, looks a bit like toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube. And because there’s way more foam than you could fit in a regular-sized toothpaste tube , it seems like an animal much larger than a human—say, an elephant —would use it.

How the Elephant Toothpaste Chemical Reaction Works

As Scientific American explains , elephant toothpaste results from speeding up the reaction that occurs when hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) breaks down into water and gaseous oxygen. To do this, you need a catalyst: a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen at a quicker-than-normal rate. The catalyst in this case is dry yeast, which harbors a certain enzyme—catalase—known for swiftly breaking down hydrogen peroxide. 

But before you add the yeast, you toss in some dish soap, which increases the surface tension across the hydrogen peroxide. Then, when the yeast causes oxygen to break off and form bubbles, they won’t burst right away—and the foamy concoction will pour forth from its receptacle.

A Kid-Friendly Elephant Toothpaste Recipe

By this point, you’ve probably already gathered that you’re going to need hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, and dry yeast. In Science Bob’s recipe , he recommends 6 percent hydrogen peroxide over 3 percent (which won’t generate quite as impressive an eruption). You’ll also need a 16-ounce plastic bottle, 3 tablespoons of warm water, and food coloring. Safety goggles are recommended for safety purposes, plus a funnel for easy pouring.

First, pour 3/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide into your bottle, and then squeeze in roughly 10 drops of food coloring. ( Scientific American suggests adding your food coloring toward the top of your bottle, so it runs down in streaks along the inside. That way, your foam will have toothpaste-like stripes.) Next, pour in about a tablespoon of dish soap and swirl your bottle so it gets evenly distributed throughout the hydrogen peroxide. Mix your 3 tablespoons of warm water with one tablespoon of dry yeast and then pour that concoction into the bottle, too. After that, just step back and watch the magic happen.

Elephant toothpaste is an exothermic reaction—meaning it generates heat—so don’t touch the foam or the bottle during or right after the eruption. There could also be leftover hydrogen peroxide that didn’t break down, so if you used the heavy-duty, 6 percent stuff, it’s best if you keep your hands off the foam altogether.

See Science Bob’s full recipe and demonstration here .

[h/t Scientific American ]

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How to Make Elephant Toothpaste (Fun Science Experiment to do at Home!)

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Want to do an easy science experiment at home? Here’s how to make elephant toothpaste!

If you’re looking for a fun and frugal kids activity that utilizes easy-to-find supplies you probably already have at home, consider making colorful elephant toothpaste! It’s super easy to accomplish and guaranteed to get some fun reactions, as it’s actually pretty impressive for a little science project.

If you’ve never heard of this before, follow along, and I’ll show you how to do your own elephant toothpaste experiment!

What is elephant toothpaste?

It’s a reaction caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium iodide or dry yeast and warm water as a catalyst that looks like huge foamy toothpaste big enough for an elephant! You can add food coloring so it will foam up into a color foam which is even more fun to look at.

Safety Note: Due to the elephant toothpaste ingredients, this experiment   will not be edible so be sure to share that with any little ones that may want to taste it. Also, you’ll want to wear safety glasses when managing the hydrogen peroxide, just in case.

Want more fun science experiments?

Be sure to check out this elephant foam experiment and video from ScienceBob.com . My kids have always been fans of his video content with fun science experiment ideas to do at home.

How To Make Elephant Toothpaste

Supplies needed.

• safety goggles
• 16 oz. empty clean plastic water bottle
• small funnel
• 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup dish soap
• 10 drops food coloring
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons warm water

Put safety goggles on. Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the plastic bottle using a funnel. Pour the liquid dish soap inside.

Add the food coloring to the bottle and gently swirl around.

Mix the yeast with warm water and add it to the bottle next. Take out the funnel.

Watch as the foam will immediately expand and overflow.

This Elephant Toothpaste experiment makes a fun foamy fountain!

To contain the mess, I used an upside-down cake pan disposable lid, as it will continue to pour out all over the water bottle. I highly recommend doing that, as it will be easier to clean up. It would be neat to do multiple bottles at the same time to create a multicolor experience, too.

Can you touch the elephant toothpaste? 

If you use a typical drugstore 3% hydrogen peroxide , then yes, it’s safe to touch, and you can clean up messes with a paper towel and wipe clean. You’ll notice that the water bottle is actually warm. That is due to an exothermic reaction, which means it not only created foam, it created heat!

Have you done any fun and easy science experiments at home recently? Be sure to share details with us in the comments! 

Learn how to make puffy sidewalk paint as a fun summer project!

About the writer:

Lina has a Bachelor's Degree from Northern Arizona University with 11 years of blogging and photography experience having work featured in Today.com, Martha Stewart, Country Living, Fox News, Buzzfeed, and HGTV.

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Ivory soap in the microwave always thrills my kids, and a good volcano with baking soda and vinegar! So fun! We’re going to try this elephant toothpaste today, thank you so much for sharing! My kids like Mark Rober and watch his videos, they want to be just like him! Happy Sciencing!!! 🌋 💕

Oh those are fun ideas! Thanks for sharing!

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more in 10-12 years

Fantastic foamy fountain.

More science videos on Science Bob’s YouTube Channel

You will need.

• A clean 16 ounce (473 ml) plastic soda bottle or a water bottle.
• 20-Volume hydrogen peroxide liquid (20-volume is a 6% solution that is stronger than what you find in most pharmacies. It is typically used for lightening hair and is found at many beauty supply stores. You can use the 3% hydrogen peroxide found in pharmacies, but the reaction will be a bit smaller)
• 1 Tablespoon (15ml –  one packet) of dry yeast
• 3+ Tablespoons (15 ml) of warm water
• Liquid dishwashing soap
• Food coloring
• Safety goggles

NOTE: The foam could overflow from the bottle, so be sure to do this experiment on a washable surface, or place the bottle on a tray.

CAUTION: The unreacted hydrogen peroxide can irritate skin and eyes. Read the safety information on the hydrogen peroxide bottle and be sure to wear safety goggles.

• Use a funnel to carefully pour 3/4 cup (180 ml) of the hydrogen peroxide liquid into the bottle
• Add about 10 drops of your favorite food coloring into the bottle.
• Add about 1 tablespoon (15ml) of liquid dish soap into the bottle and swish the bottle around a bit to mix it.
• In a separate small cup, combine the warm water and the yeast together and mix for about 30 seconds. It should be about the consistency of melted ice cream – add a bit more warm water if needed.
• Now the adventure starts! Use the funnel to pour the yeast-water mixture into the bottle and watch the foaminess begin!

Can I touch the foam? The reaction typically breaks down the hydrogen peroxide so you are left with mostly just soapy water and yeast. There can, however, be un-reacted peroxide which could irritate skin and eyes. For that reason, it is recommended you do not touch the foam.

(If you use the 3% hydrogen peroxide found in most pharmacies, then the foam can be touched safely.)

How does it work?

Foam is awesome! The foam you made in this classic Elephant’s Toothpaste reaction is extra-special because each tiny foam bubble is filled with oxygen. The yeast acted as a catalyst; a catalyst is used to speed up a reaction.  It quickly broke apart the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Because 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!

Make it an experiment:

The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

• Does the amount of yeast change the amount of foam produced?
• Will the experiment work as well if you add the dry yeast without mixing it with water?
• Does the size of the bottle affect the amount of foam produced?

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Elephant Toothpaste: Easy DIY Science Project!

• Posted On Jul 23, 2019 | Science

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How to Make Elephant Toothpaste at Home

If you are looking for a “wow factor” outdoor science experiment for the kids this summer, you have come to the right place! Mixing reactive ingredients on the sidewalk creates a foamy, blast-y spectacle resembling toothpaste for elephants!

• Safety goggles (best to get a pair that completely seal your eyes so that notoothpaste gets underneath)
• Washing-up liquid
• Dried yeast (make sure that it is in date)
• Food colouring
• Empty 500ml plastic drinks bottle
• 9% hydrogen peroxide, whichis a mild skin disinfectant that you can buy over the counter at pharmacies(Warning: hydrogen peroxide can irritate eyes and sensitive skin, so wear safety glasses and gloves. Do not swallow hydrogen peroxide or splash in eyes.)
• Glycerine, which you can find in the baking section of the supermarket, or in bigger bottles at a pharmacy
• This experiment is messy! Either work at a table that’s easy to clean, or head outside.

• Put on gloves and safety glasses.
• Pour half a cupful of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle (more if you’re using a larger bottle).

• Pour in up to two tablespoons of glycerine.
• You are going to be making toothpaste, so why not add some food colouring? I drizzled some orange food colouring down one side of the bottle and blue down the other.
• Pour the (now activated) yeast into the bottle using the funnel.
• Stand back as the bottle erupts with a thick foam that seems to just keep on going. It looks like toothpaste, but it’s definitely not for brushing teeth with!

What's going on?

Elephant toothpaste isn’t toothpaste at all, but a foam of oxygen bubbles that have been ensnared by the washing-up liquid and thickened by the glycerine.

Chemically, hydrogen peroxide is made of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms (H 2 O 2 ). This makes it similar to water (H 2 O) but with an extra oxygen atom (O) – yet hydrogen peroxide is poisonous to living things, which is why we use it as a disinfectant, and why we keep it away from our mouths and eyes.

Yeast, however, carries a protective enzyme called catalase that destroys hydrogen peroxide. The moment the living yeast cells touch the liquid disinfectant, the enzymes go to work tearing the hydrogen peroxide molecules apart, into water and oxygen. The oxygen bubbles up vigorously to form a rapidly growing foam that erupts from the top of the bottle, such is the fervour of the reaction.

You can try this science demonstration with liver instead of yeast, as this organ also contains enzymes that destroy hydrogen peroxide.

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Fun Science for Kids: Elephant Toothpaste!

What am I doing wrong that my toothpaste is so slow? It still comes out and looks like yours but it's really sllllooooww. Could it be too much Dawn? I have everything else with the right measurements. Either way this was FUN!!!!!! Thank you for posting!!

Hi Connie! Hm, I would suspect that it was either old yeast (like not active enough) or you didn't get strong enough peroxide (the 6% we used can't be bought in a grocery store - it is kind of a specialty thing) or that the peroxide was old? The reaction with the gas should be fast - and the things that react to make the gas are the yeast and the peroxide - so that would be my best guess? Glad you still had fun! :)

I agree Asia put new yeast in then it will work and Have FUN!!

Bethany like you I thought this was a GREAT experiment

Thank you both! :)

Yeast is activated when mixed with the warm water. If your water is too cold it wont activate correctly, and if its too hot, then it actually kills the yeast. So check your water temperature as well.

I am determined to find a way to do this in my life science class. Maybe a lesson on yeast and inference (what prior knowledge do you have about these ingredients that will help you guess what happens when I mix them together?)... Oh joy! This is going to be fun!

YAY! I used to teach 7th grade Life Science! The kiddos would FLIP over it!!! I hope you find a way to use it!

I teach HS Biology - It's very easily applied to enzymes and chemical reactions. Have the kids determine what enzyme the yeast make (catalase) and why most organisms produce it (peroxide is a toxic metabolic byproduct), as well as the chemical reaction involved. You can use the eruption as a great motivator and the entire lesson can be inquiry based.

Great idea!!!

I plan on using it in Children's church. What an exciting way to show the children how the Holy Spirit can liven up your life and spill over on those around you. Thank you so much for sharing!

Thank you, Eileen! I hope the children enjoy it!

can different amounts of dry yeast affect the amount of foam that comes out

I would assume so - my understanding is that the yeast acts as a catalyst. There would then be an upper bound at which it would only be so effective, but less yeast should cause a slower reaction. I hope that helps!

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!. You have the cutest little scientist in your photos -- her excitement is contagious!

Thank you, Darlene!!!! :) :) :)

Peroxide?? Is that even safe

Yes. And yes.

Lower concentrations of peroxide are fine to touch, as the handling time (time in contact with the skin) is relatively low. Having run this experiment at a university level with 30% hydrogen peroxide, and potassium iodide in place of the yeast, safety gloves need to be used both in the preparation stage (hydrogen peroxide is highly corrosive), and during the clean-up stage. Though much of the peroxide has reacted and converted to water and oxygen, the force in which the foam is shot through the container does carry peroxide with it. That being said, at this strength as long as you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, the most that will potentially happen is the hair on the back of your hands becomes very slightly lighter.

This is really cool, but I cant find any hydrogen peroxide 6%. Where did you get it?

It can be a bit tricky to find the 6%. We found ours at a local beauty supply shop (it's used by hair salons to bleach hair), but you can also buy it on Amazon through the link above. I'd call before going to any stores, just because it can be a specialty item.

Two things to note, 1. Do not add glitter as recommended by the author as at even 6%, hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer which should not be combined with certain metals. 2. Make sure you stay away from 'antibacterial' dish washing liquids as they often contain triclosan (which is chlorine based and should not be combined with hydrogen perodixe)

1. I forgot to clarify that I added plastic glitter - I will amend to reflect that. 2. I don't recommend that, but I will explicitly state to not use that. Thanks!

Where did you find plastic glitter? Is it made from cut up(small pieces) mylar?

We get ours from Discount School Supply. I have no idea, but that is totally possible! It's really cool glitter!!!

Tried it today with the $0.88 Walmart hydrogen peroxide - definitely does not produce as sturdy a foam as in your pictures, but my little guy (almost three) has been playing for half an hour! We tried yellow, blue, and red. He is happily playing away in a a baking pan of seaweed-green looking foam! Thanks for the idea!

Fantastic! And heck, you can't beat $0.88!!!

so should i add glitter or not?

If you know that your glitter is plastic, go for it. Otherwise I'd skip it just to be on the safe side. :)

Hey, I work in a special needs school and am looking at doing this activity for science week. How much yeast and stuff should I be putting in. You said a pack but how big a pack??? oh and what "dawn" soap should I get, I don't know this brand and the amazon link showed quite a few :P If I am planning on doing 3-4 bottles. Using your links, how much stuff should I be buying :) Thanks and sorry about all the questions

Hi! Yeast is usually sold in four little packs all stitched together in the grocery store. Each pack contains 1/4 oz. And any scent of Dawn is fine as long as it's not antibacterial -- I just bought the cheapest type of Dawn at our grocery store. :) If you only want to make 4 bottles, one set of four envelopes of yeast and one bottle of Dawn would be more than enough. Hope that helps!

If anyone is reading this now, I just got a 1-gallon jug of peroxide at our local Sally Beauty Supply for $4.99!! It was on sale, so it was actually cheaper than the 1/2 gallon and perhaps even the one smaller than that! I guess I'll be doing this experiment a lot! A question about the Dawn - can you use other dish soap? I forgot to buy Dawn and I normally use other stuff for dishes.

Whoa - that is an amazing deal!!! Yes, you can use other dish soap - just make sure it doesn't include triclosan (antibacterial soap). :)

I am going to try this with a bunch of kids for my son's mad scientist birthday party. I am thinking of having the peroxide/soap in the bottles already and prepping the yeast/water ahead of time and putting it in little paper cups. then when the time is right the children can pour in the color they choose and then the yeast mix. do you think this will work with having the peroxide and yeast sitting in open containers? or should it be done all at once?

SO fun! You may have some trouble pre-mixing the yeast as if it cools/dries too much it may inactivate some of the yeast. Mixing the soap and peroxide ahead of time is perfect and I think I'd measure out the dry yeast and then pour warm water into the cups for the children when you were ready to go to ensure the yeast stays awake and active enough for a good reaction. Hope that helps! And happy birthday to your son!!!

Hi, will this work with the cream type of peroxide or does it have to be clear? I have both 6% in cream or 3% in clear and don't want to disappoint my 4yo :) - Tom, Australia (apologies for double post if you received the first)

Is it Benzoyl Peroxide that you have? That's a different chemical than the one we need for this reaction - hydrogen peroxide. As far as I know hydrogen peroxide is only available in a liquid. Hope that helps!!

It does say Hydrogen Peroxide in the ingredients list. I was more considering whether all of the extra stuff in it could potentially prevent the reaction, or that the viscosity might be too slow the reaction. It's ok, we'll just go with the 3% :) Thanks for replying!

Oh how interesting! I would worry about the viscosity, the amount you'd have to use (if it's a cream, there's likely just a small amount of hydrogen peroxide added since it's a liquid), and also whether or not you'd inadvertently create a bad chemical by accident (with the other cream ingredients reacting in a way we don't anticipate).

Do you have the chemical reaction that goes along with this? thanks!!

The yeast acts as a catalyst. It's just the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, but sped up (due to the yeast) and more bubbly (due to the gas being trapped in soap): 2H2O2 → 2H2O(l) + O

tried this about 6 times with my my family it was great until the kitchen got dirty that was when we stopped but love this

Hahahahha that's so awesome!!! And hey, the soap should help with the mess? :) :) :)

I just did this with my 7 and 5 year old siblings. I only had 3% H2O2 but after concentrating it, the experiment work wonderfully!

May I ask how you concentrated the H2O2? Thanks!

Need help, how do I do this as a life science fair project? My teacher says it's not related to Life science..

Focus on the yeast -- it's a living organism and what drives the reaction. :)

Well, hello there!

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How does an elephant brush his teeth, elephant tooth paste, 5th grade science experiment.

With elephant toothpaste of course! Ok, maybe not really, but that doesn’t mean making it still isn’t fun. It’s that time of year where science projects in are in the works at our local elementary school and luckily for you guys I had to document it for Tyler’s project so I was able to experience the entire thing and get some great photos!

When Tyler first mentioned his idea for the science fair I was a little weary. Elephant tooth paste, really? I’ll tell you what, this project is so cool thats why I am on here sharing with you if you have other kids looking to do something and share a passion for science.

Before we get started let me share a few helpful tips.

-Get a flask shaped beaker. We tried with other ones and the effect was nothing compared to the one we ended up getting last from pyrex on Amazon.

-Opt for the stronger hydrogen peroxide. I ended up finding a salon product of 40% that was cheap, came in large quantities and we could order off Amazon or pick up at our local Sallys Beauty Supply just incase we ended up needing more. We first tried the store bought stuff, but the 3% did absolutely nothing, so do yourself favor and just skip over that one lol.

-After each test trial make sure you clean out the measuring cups. I know its simple but sometimes it’s the simple things we forget.

Here we go! For Tyler’s 5th grade science fair he was required to come up with an experimental project that provided real-life relevance to science content through the use of higher order-thinking while documenting and preparing a presentation for his classmates. He was given time to find exactly what he wanted and had to present his testable question to his teacher for approval. Luckily he had a great idea, after watching to many YouTube videos I’m sure lol and was approved immediately and we started our journey at home. Remember those tips I gave you, here’s why. He failed to tell me what exactly what he needed just a vague list. So I went on Amazon and got the first “science beakers” I could find. They looked great and I thought I had done a good job. I was wrong, so he asked me to order more because those were not big enough. This time I found big nice and round ones, I was positive those would work. Well, I was wrong again lol. After the 3rd attempt Tyler figure out that by showing me what he wanted would be the best help and after I learned I knew that I needed to make sure it was large enough. We ended up getting Pyrex 250ml that work perfectly. As for the yeast I had found some awesome individually wrap portions at our local Publix that turned out to be what he needed because it gave him the exact measurement for documentation purposes. Last he needed hydrogen peroxide. This was another item that he did not do so well at explaining what he needed. So being the mom that I am I went and bought 6 containers of the drug store stuff because thats what he said. After his first trial he learned quickly he needed something stronger and so we watched a few videos and found that Salon Care 40V was safe for kids and work great. I was able to order on Amazon, but just incase I wanted to make sure there was a local pick up so I confirmed with our local Sallys that they carried the product and they did.

For his experiment he was required to test and observe at least three different variables so he chose to do a regular, 2x and 3x the measurements. To our surprise the didn’t change that much, but I’ll let you figure that out for yourself.

Here’s what you need,

• 1/2 cup of Hydrogen Peroxide (Salon Care 40 volume CLEAR!)
• 1 packet of Fleischmann’s Active Yeast, mixed with 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup of dish soap
• Food Color add as much or as little as you like
• 250ml Flask Beaker
• Measuring cups
• Table with cover

Here’s what you do,

• Step 1, add peroxide to beaker
• Step 2, add dish soap to beaker
• Step 3, mix warm water with yeast
• Step 4, add yeast mixture to beaker

Here’s what to expect!

• A natural reaction of the hydrogen peroxide and yeast is to evaporate but by adding the soap the evaporation is able to be captured thus giving you elephant tooth paste! Cool isn’t?
• WARNING! It’s going to be hot. Let the mixture sit for at least a minute before touching

Here’s what you can do,

• Measure the hight of your tooth paste
• Double and even triple your measurements to see how big they can go
• Add more food coloring to the tooth paste to make fun designs

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