Out of all the fun chemistry activities to do, how to make elephant toothpaste has to have the biggest wow factor.
Elephant toothpaste is a fantastic way to visualize chemical reactions.
And it produces a large amount of foam.
First, why is it called elephant toothpaste?
Because afterwards it looks like a big tube of toothpaste which just exploded from the bottle – big enough for an elephant to use. It’s silly but fun.
Add some books and learn about the science behind elephant toothpaste.
Then add some more ideas I have below to make it a full blown (corny pun intended) chemistry day.
CHEMISTRY BOOKS FOR KIDS
Next, look at some books.
12 Chemistry Books & Resources for Kids of All Ages
But first here are some resources that are a great introduction and more to chemistry for kids.
Discover fun facts about the greatest scientists from history through Basher's fresh and unique illustration style.
Did you know that Marie Curie used to keep radioactive materials in her pockets? Or that Mendeleyev literally dreamed up his famous periodic table? Superstars of Science tells the stories behind the big ideas in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, cosmology, earth sciences, and engineering. Read about 40 great scientists including Newton and Einstein who produced theories that explained the way in which the Universe works, Crick and Watson who uncovered the structure of DNA, and Alexander Graham Bell who had the big idea that became the telephone. Each one of these greats of science has had some vital flash of insight that has changed the way we see the world and the way we live. Come meet the superstars of science!
Discover the secrets of chemistry, and learn about the properties of matter and the ways in which they interact, combine and change. Chemistry is a compelling guide to a community of characters who make up everything around us.
This book is a classic in the field of popular science. Standard reading since the 1930s, it is one of the few histories of chemistry to concentrate on the lives of the great chemists. Through these dramatic and human stories, it gives an authoritative and entertaining account of the great discoveries and advances in this scientific field. After many printings in three previous editions, this book has been newly revised by the author for this fourth edition. Beginning with Trevisan and his lifelong search for the "philosopher's stone," the author narrates the lives and discoveries of such towering figures as Paracelsus and his chemical treatment of disease; Priestley looking for phlogiston and finding oxygen and carbon dioxide, Lavoisier creating a new language of chemistry; Dalton and his Atomic Theory; Avogadro and the idea of molecules, Mendeleeff arranging the table of elements under his Periodic Law; the Curies isolating radium; Thomson discovering the electron; Moseley and his Law of Atomic Numbers; Lawrence and the construction of the cyclotron; and more. Probably the most dramatic chapter in the book, the account of the development of nuclear fission, ends the story of chemistry at its most monumental achievement.
You’ll be amazed at all you can learn from this favorite drink – what’s in it, why it fizzes, what you can do with it, the containers it’s in, and more!
Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance-which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.
If you want your child to be able to explore and complete some simple chemistry experiments without running around grabbing all the items an all in on kit is just the thing to add to your chemistry studies.
Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters? The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.
Chemistry EditionChemistry Fluxx is the perfect compound of chance, skill and strategy-use atoms and laboratory tools to match the current goal of the game and win! The rules are always changing in Fluxx. The Keepers, Goals, Rules and Action cards determine how the game will be played.
For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work:
- Purify alcohol by distillation
- Produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis
- Smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself
- Analyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substances
- Synthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paper
- Perform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisons
- and much more
Written for lay readers, provides an introduction to the principles of chemistry and includes quotations from popular literature to show how chemistry and everyday life intertwine.
If you have ever suspected that "heavy water" is the title of a bootleg Pink Floyd album, believed that surface tension is an anxiety disorder, or imagined that a noble gas is the result of a heavy meal at Buckingham Palace, then you need The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry to set you on the road to chemical literacy.
You don't need to be a scientist to grasp these and many other complex ideas, because The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry explains them all: the history and basics of chemistry, atomic theory, combustion, solubility, reaction stoichiometry, the mole, entropy, and much more—all explained in simple, clear, and yes, funny illustrations. Chemistry will never be the same!
AIR IS NOT OXYGEN is a fun way to brush up on essential science concepts you missed in school. (Admit it. You probably thought you had better things to do than study!) Clear, short chapters focus on mastering key concepts instead of memorizing facts. Dozens of optional hands-on activities make science come alive! In a style described as “Dave Barry meets Bill Nye with a touch of the Mythbusters,” award-winning author, Bill Morelan, debunks common misconceptions about basic science. Reflecting both the National Science Content Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN covers Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Science Methods.A fun, informative read, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN helps fill the gaps in your science education. (Never be humiliated by science geeks again!) Perfect for sharing, or as a handy basic reference tool. Makes a great book for kids, too.
Also, here are some more hands on ideas.
Be sure to grab the free notebooking pages and printable for this activity.
MORE FUN CHEMISTRY ACTIVITIES
- 2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages
- How to Make A Pyramid Diorama For States Of Matter
- How To Make A Fun Periodic Table Notes Game With Kids
- Homeschool High School Chemistry & Free Reference Sheet and Resources for more ideas.
- 21 Fun Chemistry Homeschool Ideas for Kids
- 10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum
Also, look at the science behind the elephant toothpaste chemistry explosion.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE
The main ingredient in this experiment is hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Hydrogen peroxide is made up of water (H₂O) and extra oxygen molecules (O₂).
When yeast (containing a catalyst enzyme) is added to hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen and oxygen) oxygen molecules are rapidly released.
The dish soap that is added causes a foam reaction.
Note: You can use 3% or 6% hydrogen peroxide.
However, 12% gives a more impressive reaction. 3% or 6% could work but it might not have as much WOW factor
Finally, look at how to make elephant toothpaste.
HOW TO MAKE ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE
List of supplies:
- ½ C 12% Hydrogen Peroxide (Note: 12% hydrogen peroxide can be purchased online or at Home Depot)
- ¼ C warm water
- Measuring cups
- ¾ – 1 Tbsp activated yeast (or (1) ¼ oz activated yeast envelope)
- 1 Tbsp Dawn dish soap
- Food coloring
- Latex gloves
- Protective eyeglasses
- Plastic bottle about 1L in size
- Plastic tub with sides
- Fork
Gather all the supplies needed.
Put on the latex gloves and eyeglasses and place the empty bottle into the empty tub.
Carefully pour hydrogen peroxide into the plastic bottles.
Then, add dawn dish soap to the peroxide.
And slowly swirl the bottle to mix.
Add a few drops of food coloring to the lip of the plastic bottle.
Add the yeast to the warm water.
Then mix with a fork.
Slowly add the yeast to the water bottle.
Then cue the camera.
Enjoy the wow factor.
HOW TO GET THE FREE ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE
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